Leach Field Checklist
Also known as a septic tank drainfield, a leach field is an integral part of a wastewater treatment system. It comprises of a series of perforated pipes buried in underground gravel-filled trenches to remove contaminants and impurities from wastewater after it leaves the septic tank.
A leach field is one of the most important yet overlooked components of a septic system. As a homeowner or property manager, it’s your responsibility to take good care of your leach field to prevent issues such as oversaturation and sewage backups. Proper leach field maintenance not only helps prevent common leach field problems, but also saves you money down the road.
Here is a checklist that will help you keep your leach field in good working order.
- Pump Out Your Septic Tank Regularly
Pumping out your septic tank helps to prevent overloading your leach field. You should pump out your septic tank every 2-3 years depending on the size of your tank and usage.
- Get On a Maintenance Program
You should have your leach field inspected at least every three years to ensure everything is in good working order. The perforated pipes that eliminate wastewater into the soil can become clogged or get damaged over time. It’s important to inspect the pipes and other components of your leach field to ensure they’re in good shape.
- Do Not Overload The Leach Field
Excessive use of water in your household can put too much pressure on your septic system and overload your drain field. Ensure you take steps to eliminate wasteful water usage in your home. Besides, you should ensure your gutters are not diverting rainwater into your leach field, as this can lead to saturation and backups.
- Protect Your Leach Field
Avoid placing heavy objects on your leach field for any period of time, as it can block soil transpiration and interfere with effluent disposal. You should also avoid driving or parking vehicles over your leach field.
- Be Careful What You Put Down the Drain
Everything you put down your drain ends up in the leach field. You should never flush anything besides human waste and toilet paper down the drain. Items like disposable diapers, wet wipes, cigarette butts, grease, and fat can interfere with the proper functioning of your septic tank and leach field. Some of them are non-decomposable, hence they will end sitting on your leach field for many years.
- Seek Leach Field Repair When You Notice Problems
When you notice leach field problems such as bad smells and saturation, it’s best to call a septic system contractor as soon as possible. Ignoring leach field problems can lead to worse problems and costly repairs.
Looking for Septic System Services? Contact Septic Blue
As a homeowner or property manager, you’ll need to hire a dependable septic company on a regular basis to help you with septic installations, septic tank repair, septic pumping, and other services. If you’re searching for reliable septic tank service, look no further than Septic Blue.
At Septic Blue, we pride ourselves on providing affordable and reliable septic system services. Whether your leach field is showing signs of failure, your septic tank needs repair, or you need routine septic maintenance, we’ve got you covered.
