What Is a Leach Field Wet Spot?

Septic system care and maintenance is the responsibility of the homeowner or property owner. If this means you, read on! Below are the top known causes of leach field wet spots and some helpful leach field maintenance tips in Lancaster, NY for septic system owners.

Clogs and debris buildup

No matter how new or high-quality your septic system is, nearly all leach fields are prone to blockages. These types of problems are often caused by invasive tree roots growing deep enough to clog the normal flow of the wastewater moving from the septic tank to the drain field area. Dumping grease, oils and other non-biodegradable materials down household drains should absolutely be avoided, because the bacteria in the tank cannot break them down.

Luckily, there are things you can do to prevent clogs and blockages that cause wet spots in your leach field. When it comes to roots, remove them by hand, then transplant the tree or plant to a different area far away from your septic system. Also, immediately stop dumping non-biodegradable products, oils and grease into your system. If the likelihood of a grease clog is high, hire a professional to pump out your septic system as soon as possible.

No beneficial bacteria

When resident bacteria is non-existent, the septic system cannot function properly. Bacteria, after all, is what’s responsible for breaking down the solid waste materials that get introduced to the system with the wastewater, but they can disappear with improper drain use. For example, products like strong solvents and antibacterial cleaners corrode system components and destroy the good bacteria population. The system won’t be able to follow through on the decomposition process of waste, and solid waste materials are left to buildup in the leach field system. To prevent this, stop flushing chemical household cleaning products and treat the system with non-pathogenic bacteria.

Component damage

Damage to leach field components can happen for all sorts of reasons, but the most common are directly related to the age of the system, root invasion and soil compaction. If you don’t know the age of your system, talk to your septic expert to find out. They can also help you determine whether any parts need to be replaced due to the age of your system.

Heavy structures and vehicles on top of the leach field cause soil compaction. The weight of such things can crush and break vital connections beneath the soil, which affects the system’s ability to channel the effluent. As for invasive roots, they’re the main cause of cracks and gaps in components.

Infrequent pumping

If your property is hooked up to a septic system, then you must set up a regular pumping schedule. Failing to have your system pumped can result in total septic system failure. Wet spots can turn into sewage pools, not to mention lead to hefty repair costs… or the need for a complete system replacement.

If you’re the owner of a septic system looking for leach field maintenance tips in Lancaster, NY, contact the knowledgeable team at Macken Services, Inc. Call us today to schedule septic maintenance or repairs!

Categorised in: Leach Fields

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