Prevent a Messy Situation at Your Home or Business
Many homeowners and business owners are keenly aware of their septic tanks, but do they ever consider how to avoid drain field problems? Any problems with a drain field can create a big mess on their property and require costly repairs. According to HouseLogic.com, a broken drain field can cost a few hundred dollars, while a drain field replacement could cost anywhere between $2,000 and $10,000. At most, they may have to install an alternative treatment system, which could cost $15,000 or more.
With this in mind, it would be prudent to take proper care of your drain field. But how can you do that? This month, our team here at Montgomery Sanitation Services, Inc., in Christiansburg, VA, wants to offer you some advice to avoid some nasty drain field issues.
What is a Drain Field?
First off, what is your drain field? The drain field serves an important function as a part of your septic system. After the waste from your home or business enters the septic tank, it separates into solids and liquids. The liquid waste, or effluents, then flow to the drain field. In the drain field, the effluents disseminate throughout the adjacent soil. As it does, the procedure strips away unhealthy microorganisms and contaminants from the effluents. This leaves behind only water.
The drain field consists of several parallel pipes that flow into a substrate in the ground. If a problem disrupts the operation, the entire septic system will cease to work. With this in mind, it is even more important to avoid any issues in the drain field on your property.
Some Tips to Keep Your Drain Field Operating Properly
To keep your drain field operating at peak efficiency, our team here at Montgomery Sanitation Services, Inc., offers a few tips to avoid any issues:
- Don’t flush foreign objects down the toilet. You should only flush waste and toilet paper. All other objects, including wipes, can congregate and clog up a septic system. This can back up the entire process, resulting in an undesirable mess and expensive repairs.
- Don’t plant trees near a drain field. A tree’s root system can be detrimental to a drain field and an entire septic system, breaking through components or pushing them out of place over time. Make sure you know where your drain field is, and plant any trees far away from that area. Only plant grass over a drain field.
- Use less water. When too much water enters the drain field, it can cause wastewater to back up and seep to the surface. Make sure your faucets don’t leak. If it is possible, install water-saving toilets and faucets. Don’t wash your laundry, run your dishwasher, take a shower, or perform other tasks that involve water at the same time.
- Install more lines into the drain field. This gives the effluents more avenues to flow through, reducing the risk of a backup or another problem.
- Consider the age of your drain field. On average, a drain field lasts around 25 years with proper maintenance. After that, you may start to experience issues due to the age of the septic system.
- Don’t crush your drain field. Once again, know exactly where your drain field is. Don’t park vehicles, set up structures, or place excessive weight on this area. A drain field is hardy, but it can’t withstand too much weight. This will crack and damage your pipes, and a costly repair bill will be on its way.
- Pay careful attention to your landscaping. Yes, your landscaping plan can have an effect on your drain field. If outside sources of water flow toward your drain field, it can saturate the system. When this happens, your drain field may not accept the effluents from the septic tank, causing a backup. Make sure, as much as possible, that your lawn slopes away from the drain field, and angle any rain gutters away from it, too.
- Don’t kill microorganisms. Healthy biological activity is necessary for the septic system and the drain field to perform its duty. When microorganisms die, a biological imbalance disrupts the process. Keep substances such as detergents, insecticides, and fertilizers from seeping into the drain field. These will kill off the necessary microorganisms.
- Keep up proper maintenance. As we’ve already mentioned, proper maintenance can extend the lifespan of your drain field. Maintenance will also detect slight issues that could become bigger problems in years to come. Hire a dependable, expert sanitation service, such as Montgomery Sanitation Services, Inc., to perform routine maintenance on the septic system at your New River Valley home or business. This can save you big money and big headaches in the future.
We are the Drain Field Experts
When you incorporate these ideas into your drain field care, you should avoid a lot of unnecessary issues with your septic system. However, problems do occur. When your drain field needs attention, it’s time to call our team at Montgomery Sanitation Services, Inc. We will get to your house, business, or other property in Christiansburg, Blacksburg, Radford, or anywhere else in the New River Valley as soon as possible. We have the drain field expertise and experience to properly diagnose the problem and fix it right the first time. Drain field issues can be messy. Trust Montgomery Sanitation Services, Inc., for all of your drain field needs.
Trust Montgomery Sanitation Services, Inc.
Our team can handle much more than drain field problems, though. We are the smart choice to fix any septic system problem in the New River Valley. We are professional, efficient, and courteous. Our team will be respectful of the rest of your property when handling any installation, maintenance, or repairs. You can trust us for septic tank pumping, cleaning, and maintenance, and so much more. Contact us today for a free estimate on our work.
Call our team at Montgomery Sanitation Services, Inc., today at (540) 382-2205. Like us on Facebook for updates and more information on avoiding drain field problems.