All the water used in the home along with any waste, exits through the plumbing and enters the septic tank through the inlet pipe. Failures in this section of the system are usually dislodged or collapsed inlet pipe, soft tissue blockage, and potentially a failing drain field.
The septic tank serves one purpose and one purpose only, it holds solids. Pumping a septic tank over and over expecting to solve slow drain issues or backups is a waste of time and resources. Failures caused by the septic tank are most commonly the baffle tees need replacement, roots or other debris, cracks or failed lids. Tanks that are discharging water above ground are caused by a failing drain field or outlet pipe.
Some systems have DB’s and some do not. Once the tank has held all the solids and debris, the water exits the tank in the outlet pipe and flows into the drain field either directly from the outlet pipe or through a DB. Failures in this section are dislodged or collapsed outlet pipe, roots from surrounding plants, but can also be caused by a failing drain field.
This is where the magic happens that makes the entire system work. Without a properly working drain field, the entire system can become damaged and need replacement. Delaying drain field repairs can end up costing 3 to 4 times more to repair if not remedied at the 1st sign of trouble. Age of the system, roots from vegetation, BIO-mat forming around the drain lines, location, and design of the system layout are also common causes of failed drain fields. Scheduled an appointment with the Pros at Freshwater if you are experiencing any issues with your septic system.