A failed septic drain field is one of the most common causes of septic system failure. Your drain field (or leach field) is a series of perforated pipes surrounded with drainage aggregate and buried beneath your yard. This field slopes away from your septic tank, allowing your home’s wastewater to flow away from your home. As it travels through your drain field, the waste is deposited into a porous aggregate like gravel while the treated water gets absorbed back into the ground.
Maintaining a functioning drain field is crucial for the longevity of your septic system. Here are 5 ways you can identify the signs of a failing drain field!
Puddles and Standing Water
Since the very goal of your drain field is to absorb water into the soil, one of the clearest signs there is a problem is puddling or highly saturated soil around your drain field. This indicates that the wastewater is not draining properly and there’s an issue with your pipes or septic tank.
What causes standing water in your yard over your drain field? This symptom can either point to cracked pipes allowing more water to be released than can be absorbed, or the presence of a serious clog. If a clog is found, the issue that can be remedied by a septic pumping company. Cracked septic pipes, however, can happen for numerous reasons, but they ultimately require a drain field replacement or a replacement system.
Ask us about drain field replacement.
Slow-Draining, Gurgling Plumbing
Pay attention to the speed at which your sinks, showers, and toilets drain. If you observe slow drainage, it could suggest that your drain field is struggling to handle the wastewater efficiently.
Listen for unusual sounds when using plumbing fixtures. Gurgling noises from drains could indicate a backup in the system, possibly stemming from a failing drain field.
These issues can indicate that your drain field pipe(s) are either clogged or crushed—making it difficult for wastewater to make its way through.
To prevent slow draining from becoming more severe sewage backups, get a diagnosis of your septic system and drain field as quick as you can.
Unpleasant Odors
Similarly, if you’re noticing accompanying odors of sewage from your drain field, septic tank, or your drains, this is another indicator of a failing drain field. This can be one of the first signs you notice, and when you do, it’s time to investigate further.
As soon as you can, contact a septic professional for an inspection.
Sewage Backups
If you experience backups in toilets or drains within your home, it’s a red flag. Sewage backups happen when your drain field gets so overloaded, that the wastewater can’t soak into the ground—and has nowhere else to go—so it backs up into your house or yard.
Sewage backups can be messy situations, and are signs that your septic system needs attention ASAP.
Lush Grass Over the Drain Field
Check the area above your drain field. If the grass appears excessively green or lush compared to the surrounding area, it might be a sign that the leach field is receiving more water than it can handle or is improperly storing waste.
This extra water and nutrients cause the surrounding grass to thrive, producing greener grass or increased growth.
Get Professional Septic & Drain Field Replacement
While some drain field issues are a simple repair, the signs of drain field failure indicate that it’s time to replace your drain field.
Top Notch Pros is a septic installation contractor in Grand Rapids, MI, specializing in septic and drain fields throughout West Michigan—with over 15 years of experience in the area.
Invest in the longevity of your home’s septic system—choose Top Notch Pros for reliable septic and drain field replacement services!
Schedule an installation or request more information by sending us a message online or calling us at 616-272-6754.
