Septic tank maintenance

April 4th, 2013:

Fixing and preventing drain field wet spots?

Fixing and preventing drain field wet spots is the topic of this article. How do you know when you’re having a good day?  First of all, a good day starts with a bright sunshine, a hearty breakfast, and a drain field that doesn’t have any wet spots. Unfortunately, you didn’t have that luxury that day. When you decided to visit your yard that morning, your feet were soaked in small puddles of wastewater that smelled awful. You were so disgusted by what happened that you showered again even if you already did.

These drain field wet spots are signs of septic system failure. Nobody wants them popping up on their yards. What are the proper ways of fixing and preventing drain field wet spots? To fix and prevent drain field wet spots, you have to know the root cause. You can only know about it when your septic expert performs a thorough inspection. Here are some of the most common causes of drain field wet spots:

  • Pumping out game

Pumping out your system is a primary duty if you’re the homeowner. As you know., sludge could be dispersed into the drain field if it just accumulates in the septic tank. It is in making sure that the sludge levels are maintained at normal levels that drain field wet spots can be fixed and prevented. It can be very difficult to keep because of busy schedules, budget constraints, and other stresses but exert effort in doing so. Just talk to your septic expert about the set up in your home with regard to the number of people living there. Pumping schedules depend on how many people inhabit your home. Pumping sessions can cost 75 to 300 USD depending on the area and the services that go with the pump out treatment. You can have your septic pumped out every year to every three years so you have time to prepare for the payments.

  • System clogging

Clogging of the drain field can bring about drain field wet spots. This can result from hardwood roots, non-biodegradable materials, and grease. Hardwood rooted plants such as shrubs and trees have very complex root systems that penetrate deep into the drain field and clog its components. Dumping grease and non-biodegradable materials also clog the system big time. These compounds cannot be degraded by the resident bacteria in the septic tank anymore. They just stay there, occupy the space that’s meant for wastewater treatment and disperse right into the drain field. This makes the wastewater back up and form wets spots. Eventually, this will lead to system failure. Correction and prevention of such blockage problems can be done by relocating the hardwood plants and by refraining from the habit of dumping whatever you want into your system even if you have a garbage disposal unit.

  • Killed bacteria

Bacteria are constantly killed by the harsh chemical cleaners and antibacterial solutions that you use in your home. These microscopic organisms make up the essence of the septic system. Without them, the septic system ceases to function. Be sure to consult your septic expert about the bacteria- and environment-friendly products that you can use that will help you with your chores but keep your bacteria safe to keep those drain field wet spots off your property.

  • System damage

System damage brought about by soil compaction, hardwood roots, and old age. In soil compaction, the heavy weight caused by structures and vehicles over your system compresses and crushes the drain field components. Hardwood roots also penetrate deep enough to create cracks and gaps. The system’s old age is also a cause of deteriorated physical parts in the drain field. All these damages result to leaks that make the incoming wastewater back up and create wet spots. You should immediately ask your septic expert to replace the ruined parts. It’s better to spend a few hundred dollars of this than to pay 30,000 USD for a septic system replacement.

It’s a must for you to cooperate and coordinate with your septic expert to fix and prevent drain field wet spots. It will cost you a small amount and a lot of effort but in the long run. Everything will be worth it.