Expert Septic Field Repair in Northeast Florida
When something goes wrong with a system, it’s often septic field repair that needs to be done. Sometimes referred to as a leach field or drain field, this portion of your system is responsible for managing the wastewater (effluent) that comes out of the system. It makes sure that the effluent gets absorbed into the soil. The drainfield is buried under the ground, so it’s impossible to see exactly what’s happening with it without digging it up, but our experienced partner technician can often diagnose what part of the system is having issues, as well as whether it needs to be repaired or replaced, based on the symptoms it gives off.
What Necessitates Septic Field Repair
The drainfield is made up of numerous interconnected pipelines that carry the effluent and disperse it evenly into the soil via lots of tiny holes in the lines. If you take good care of your system by pumping the tank when it needs it and by not overloading the system with excess water, odds are you won’t experience an issue with the drainfield. However, sometimes you can experience an issue regardless of what you do, and issues may even be caused by poor design or installation. Some of the most common causes are outlined below:
Failure to Pump: When wastewater enters the tank, it separates into three layers. Things like fat and grease float to the top, and the solids sink to the bottom. Only the middle layer, the effluent, is supposed to leave the tank. The rest needs to be pumped out at regular intervals. If you don’t keep up with this, the layers get so thick that the solid waste and grease exits the tank and enters the drainfield, causing it to clog.
Overload: Your tank can only hold so much water at once, so if a lot of people add to it, the effluent may not have time to separate before it’s forced from the tank to the drainfield.
Breaks: Occasionally, a line will break due to excess weight placed on top of it or because of roots.
Biomat: The lines and soil will naturally develop a biomat, or a slimy layer of bacteria. This is ok. It makes sure that the effluent is dispersed slowly and helps remove pathogens from it. If a drainfield never dries out or the environment is out of balance, the layer of biomat can overtake the lines, causing them to stop draining.
Signs Septic Field Repair May Be Necessary
- Standing water over the drainfield
- Bubbling water over the drainfield
- Effluent backing up into the building
- Slow or sluggish draining throughout the building
- Toilets not being clear after a single flush
Septic Field Repair vs Replacement
If a single line is damaged or a component breaks, a simple repair will generally fix it. When multiple lines within the drainfield are overtaken, it may require a replacement. In any case, it’s important to have a technician come out right away if you experience any of the symptoms of a failing drainfield. These things tend to go south rather quickly, resulting in an unsanitary environment and needless damage being caused.
Contact Don’s Septic & Fill for All Your Septic Field Repair and Replacement Needs
Our expert partners have a wealth of experience and can diagnose your system quickly, so you can determine how to best remedy the problem. They work diligently and quickly to restore functionality of your system, enabling you to get on with your life faster. Call us at (404) 998-8812 to schedule today.