Your septic system is comprised of 2 parts. The first part is the most familiar to most homeowners – the septic tank. This tank is watertight and usually made from metal or concreate. Wastewater (and solids) from your home’s plumbing enter this tank. The water flows through the tank and into the septic drain field. The solids settle to the bottom of the tank and are broken down by bacteria.
The septic drain field is made up of perforated pipes that run through trenches filled with gravel and sand. This allows the liquid and water components of your household waste to gradually spread throughout the area without saturating a single area. One common problem that homeowners have with their septic system that leads to the need for drain field repair is being unaware of the drain field’s location. If you don’t know where your drain field is located, you need to find out. Our professionals at Lee Kirk & Sons Septic can help you. Oftentimes, if you bought a house from someone else, there will be a sketch of your septic system included in the documents you received when you purchased the home. This can come in handy if you need drain field repair.
Once you know where your septic tank and drain field are located, here are some important things you can do to protect the integrity of your drain field and reduce the likelihood that you will need drain field repair:
- Never drive over any part of your septic system. The weight of a vehicle can damage the trenches and pipes of your drain field.
- Do not plant shrubs, bushes or trees around your system. The roots of these plants can damage the septic system.
- Do not cover any area of your system with concrete or asphalt.