Your septic system is malfunctioning when sewage backs up into the home or foul aromas fill the backyard. You’ll need to make some important decisions on whether to fix or replace the system depending on what’s causing the issue.
Repairing a damaged pipe could just cost a few hundred dollars. However, if the drain field has to be changed, you would have to pay a significant sum of money. This is when Finish Grade Excavation enters the picture; we can ensure proper septic field replacements at affordable costs.
Septic systems need regular upkeep, much like most other parts of your house. The septic system can offer dependable service for many years if maintained. Septic system owners run the risk of severe and expensive breakdowns if their system is not maintained. Additionally, septic systems do have a useful life and will ultimately require replacement.
A faulty or dysfunctional septic system can damage the environment and endanger the health of people and animals. No matter how old the system is, a competent septic owner is aware of the warning indications of failure and takes action as soon as possible. A prompt reaction could help the owner avoid costly repairs, as well as disease and other environmental effects.
Untreated sewage leaves the home and moves to an inappropriate location when a septic system fails. This might result in sewage backing up in building pipes or rising to the surface of the ground near the tank or drain field.
Without our knowledge, sewage may potentially enter groundwater, surface water, or marine water. Pathogens and other hazardous substances can be present in sewage. People and animals can become ill after exposure to certain diseases and pollutants. Additionally, they have the potential to pollute water supplies, rendering them unfit for drinking, swimming, shellfish harvesting, and other agricultural purposes.
There are various reasons that can facilitate a septic drain field failure, below are some of the typical causes of septic field malfunctions:
Overloading a septic system with more water than it can handle is a typical cause of system failure. Based on the number of bedrooms in the house being served by the system (120 gallons per bedroom per day), a septic system is built for a specified treat wastewater flow rate. The extra water backs up into the house or onto surfaces in the yard when you surpass this flow rate. This issue is frequently the consequence of a faulty fixture, such as a leaking faucet or a slow-leaking toilet.
The septic system may be overloaded by extra water from within the house as well as drainage or runoff water from the outside. For instance, water may be redirected into the system drain field from rooftops, roadways, or paved places. Surface water will saturate the soil until it is unable to absorb any more.
Sewage backs up into the home or onto the ground as a result. The system can also be overloaded if surface or groundwater is permitted to enter the septic tank filter. Septic tanks are made to be waterproof for this reason, and surface water should be directed away from the access covers.
A septic system that is built poorly is doomed to fail. Planning should ensure the system is built with enough area and with the right soil. The volume of sewage entering the system and the soil and site characteristics of the drain field dictate the area requirements. In general, systems are built with the assumption that there are two occupants per bedroom and that each person generates roughly 60 gallons of wastewater per day.
Therefore, septic systems typically manage a flow rate of 120 gallons per day per bedroom (two people per bedroom x 60 gallons per person per day). The projected use of nonresidential property determines the flow rate. The amount of sewage that may be safely applied to the soil depends on the site’s soil composition. Sandier soils often have smaller drain fields because they can absorb more wastewater than soils with a higher clay composition can. The depth below the soil surface that the bottom of the tank or drain field trenches can be put depends on the presence of a seasonal high water table or a restricting layer (such a hardpan or rock).
In order to cleanse and finally distribute the cleaned sewage, the soil is the most crucial component of the septic system. The sewage may not be sufficiently cleansed before it reaches groundwater if the soil under the drain field is very saturated. Additionally, if a layer of restriction is too close to the bottom of the trench, the soil might not be able to completely absorb the sewage, driving it to the surface or back up into the home.
A septic system can be harmed or destroyed by vehicles, pavement, or structures built on top of it. When abused repeatedly or even occasionally, the perforated pipes and septic tank may move or even become crushed. In addition, the earth may get compacted or develop ruts, exposing system parts and sometimes raw sewage to the surface.
Paving over the drain field entirely or in part may prevent air from penetrating the soil and restrict access for repairs and maintenance. Due to the weight of the structure or the placement of the building footings, constructing over the drain field might compact the soil or possibly break a line. Paving or erecting a structure over the septic tank will also obviate the need for tank maintenance.
Tree roots might choke the gravel in the trenches and the drainpipes. Removing or not planting trees or bushes within 25 feet of the drain field is the easiest approach to avoid this. We do not recommend planting trees and plants above the septic tank or distribution box since roots may enter these areas as well. The drain field and any other outside system parts should be covered with grass. The grass serves to remove water from the area and keeps dirt from washing over the structural elements. The majority of septic systems need that a space be reserved for potential repairs. It is important to treat and safeguard this place as though it were in use.
Septic systems typically last 20 to 30 years, while some may have a longer useful life. Eventually, you will have to completely or partially treat the conventional septic system on your property. If you want to prevent sewage backups, you need to know when to start replacing system parts.
The average water use is generally used to calculate septic system capabilities. A tank size of 900 to 1000 gallons is enough if your household consumes less than 500 gallons of water per day, which is the amount consumed by a typical one- to three-bedroom home.
A five-bedroom house, on the other hand, will probably consume closer to 900 gallons daily and need a 1500-gallon septic capacity. You might need to swap out the tank for a larger type if remodeling, a family expansion, or increased water demand have taken place.
Since many homes with septic systems also use well water, it’s crucial to keep an eye on the water’s quality. However, if your septic system fails, even a municipal water supply might become polluted. You should check your system for leaks if a water test reveals sewage pollution in your well or tap water. Install a replacement system if the damage is severe.
Although there are kits for testing water at home, using a professional facility will yield findings that are more reliable. Given that the health of your family may be directly impacted by the water quality, this is a wise investment.
In order to prevent sewage from seeping into the soil and groundwater, a fracture in the septic tank itself needs to be repaired very away. Greener grass around the tank and stagnant water that smells like sewage are indications that the tank is leaking. Inspection of the tank at least once every five years can help reduce the likelihood of a leak, while older tanks may need more regular inspections.
A broken tank may occasionally be repairable, particularly if the issue is discovered early on. If not, the leaky tank must be replaced right once to stop further sewage from seeping into the earth.
Between your residence and your tank, as well as the treated sewage from the tank to the drainfield, waste is transported by effluent or sewer lines. Inefficient line flow might cause leaks to develop or, worse, damage to the tank or drainfield.
Most of the time, leaking lines can be replaced without having to replace the complete system. On the other side, if clogged lines aren’t quickly fixed, they might completely shut down the system. There are several potential causes, including drainfield failure, valve damage, and tank leaks. You should check the system for obstructions and damage if your drains are backing up or sewage odors have entered your home.
This is when we come in, get in touch with your number 1 septic field replacement experts. Finish Grade Excavation has worked with septic systems for 20 years and we will provide outstanding services in septic system repair or replacement.
Call now to speak to our experts about your septic system issues.