They’ve Come a Long Way Since the Pyramids

Posted on: 15 March 2021

When water is released from a septic system, it goes through the drainfield to alleviate impurities found in wastewater. Even the best drainfields will stop working at times, but you'll have no worries if you approach possible repairs with sound judgment and understanding.

Make a Thorough Assessment First

Drainfields can start failing for a lot of reasons. It may be because drain lines never had the time to fully dry out and then a bacteria film develops that hinders performance. Or there might be a structural problem with the drainfield. There could be even multiple problems happening at the same time.

You want to make a thorough assessment before you decide on any one repair. Carefully examine the components of your drainfield that you can access and document your findings. Then you can take what you find and compare them with common drainfield problems to see what repairs are suggested. This is a good start to fixing this important system.

Understand What Fixes are Simple

Your drainfield may have stopped working, but that doesn't automatically mean the fix is out of your range of handling. There are actually a lot of drainfield problems that owners can fix themselves. You just need to know what fixes these are so that you can respond appropriately when relevant problems surface.

For instance, a bunch of vegetation may have grown near some integral drainfield parts. You can simply remove them without disturbing your drainfield and that could be enough to get it functioning right. Just make sure you don't attempt to complete the more complex fixes yourself because that's usually where problems become costly. 

Opt for Restoration for Major Damage

If you don't respond in time to drainfield problems, a lot of damage may have occurred. Then dealing with wastewater correctly may not be a possibility. Don't assume you have to replace the drainfield entirely. A restoration may still be possible and you'll know for certain if you consult with drainfield repair specialists.

Have one look at your drainfield to see if restoration is a good idea. This might involve swapping out components and reworking the landscaping, but these steps are much more affordable compared to buying a brand-new drainfield and having it installed.

You want your septic system's drainfield firing on all cylinders because then you'll have fewer issues. If it ever doesn't and you can recognize what's wrong, go through possible repair solutions until you find one that's appropriate for the damage present. Reach out to a professional who provides septic tank drainfield repair for more help.