Leach field problems
Septic Tank Services is based in Scotland and covers the needs of people throughout the country, as well as the north of England. Due to this, we have seen the wildly varying terrain that these islands offer, from hard granite to soft beaches and mossy woodland. This has given us a unique perspective into what works when it comes to choosing the best place for a drainage or leach field. As a result, we have come across many leach field problems – and how to solve them.
What is a leach field for?
Leach fields drain away the waste water from your tank. Once the good microbes in the tank have removed a lot of the waste, what is left is released into the ground where it slowly drains or leaches away. By the time it gets to the groundwater, it is clean and safe again.
This all happens over an underground network of pipes which disperse the water evenly over an area of land. However, problems can arise in this process, for a variety of reasons. This could include broken or blocked pipes or a change in the soil type of compaction. Keep reading to find out what some of them are.
Common leach field problems
Waterlogging
Scotland’s fantastic yet unique climate offers a range of problems to leach field systems. If you are on clay soil, heavy rainfall can very quickly waterlog the ground, meaning your waste water will not drain down towards the groundwater. In fact, it may stay on the surface.
The same will happen on compact ground, perhaps from heavy traffic use. This is why we always recommend that drainage fields are not used for any other purpose wherever possible.
Tree roots & blockages
The roots of trees can spread surprisingly far, and they can be a problem for leach fields. Even if you are some distance away, roots can travel and constrict or break through pipes, often blocking them. If enough pipes in the drainage system are blocked, then you will start to see problems all the way back in your home with slow drainage and water coming up out of your sink or toilet.
Blockages can also be the result of a poorly maintained septic tank. Whilst the water is released into the grounds, the solid waste needs to be removed regularly, a service we provide. However if the waste is left too long, it can find its way into the leach field, blocking the pipes and making the area smelly.
Poor design or placement
Sometimes, the systems seems to be set up to fail. DIY enthusiasts or those with little experience of leach field placement can install the whole system in the wrong place, using the wrong equipment. Whilst it may function adequately at first, it won’t be long before problems start to occur.
How do you know when leach fields need fixed or replaced?
As with most things, early detection is key to keeping costs down. Warning signs to look out for include:
- Slow drainage in your home, or the drains making odd gurgling noises
- Water backing up into your home, from the sink or toilet
- A bad sewage smell outside
- Leach fields with lush greenery (which means the minerals are being absorbed at the surface, rather than draining away).
- Water pooling in your leach field and not draining quickly (or at all).
Here is some more information on what to look out for with a faulty leach field system.
See a problem? Get in touch
If you have noticed any of these issues around your property, or something seems suspicious about your leach field, then just give us a call and we’ll investigate. Leach field problems in Scotland and the north of the UK can be fixed easily if caught soon, so don’t delay in calling us out!