3 Leach Field Problems Regular Maintenance Can Prevent

For some homeowners, septic system care is the last thing on their mind. If their system works, they don't worry about it, assuming that they'll be able to tell when they really need the professionals. But sadly, they've been misinformed. Caring for your septic system on a regular basis may be inconvenient, but it can save you tens of thousands in repairs.

Like your AC unit and your plumbing system, your septic system needs a little home care and a little professional care now and then to stay in top shape. Here are three leach field problems that you can often avoid by simply taking care of your septic system.

Taking simple steps to care for your septic tank and leach field is essential if you don't want contaminated groundwater. For example, if you overload your septic system and neglect tank pumping, it can eventually lead to clogged leach field pipes. This, in turn, will reduce the leach field's ability to clean your wastewater.

A leach field that's not what it once was may not show obvious signs at first. However, it could still be sending improperly processed water down through the topsoil. This allows contaminated water to enter the water table, where it may destroy the quality of the groundwater and make it unsafe to drink.

In addition to the groundwater, a failing leach field can also contaminate other nearby bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, or even the ocean. As you can see, this isn't just an expensive hazard to yourself and your family; it's also extremely bad for local ecosystems.

Periodically inspect your leach field lines for damage so that you can catch any tree root incursions early on in the process. Another way you can mitigate tree root incursions is to make sure that no trees or large bushes are anywhere near the system (the accepted rule of thumb is to keep trees at least as many feet away from the system as their mature height).

If you don't take either of these steps, your leach field pipes could quickly accrue tree root damage. Tree roots can grow into fibrous blockages inside the pipes and burst them open from the inside. In this way, they cause both backups and leaks. So taking care of your system can help you avoid any dangers and expenditures that come from sewage backups in your home.

Like tree root blockages, those blockages caused by an overly full septic tank can cause sewage backup in your home. But they can cause much more widespread and systemic damage to your leach field. If a tree root gets into your pipe and bursts it, you'll need to replace that length of pipe. However, neglect can cause your septic tank to overflow into the leach field until it fails completely.

This is how a lack of basic maintenance can, if it continues long enough, kill the entire pipe network in the leach field, filling all or most of the pipes with solid debris until they can't function. So refusing to pump out the tank is one of the worst things you can do to your septic system.

As you can see, septic system neglect isn't just bad for your septic tank and won't just put you at risk of slow drains. It can cause complete failure of the system, which can then require tens of thousands of dollars to replace. Simple maintenance tasks such as getting your tank pumped and inspected and keeping trees away from your leach field make a big difference.

For more information on how we can help you maintain a healthy septic system, call JT Sanitation today to discuss our services or schedule a visit.