Leach Field?
A leach field (also called a drain field) is an essential component of most modern septic systems. A leach field consists of one or more trenches containing gravel with perforated pipes buried within. The leach field receives wastewater from the septic tank and filters it as it flows slowly through the gravel toward the pipes, where it enters into the soil, usually several feet below ground level.
A properly sized and properly installed leach field will ensure that wastewater goes into the soil instead of pooling on top of it, which can create problems with mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water. Wastewater should always be flowing out of the drainage pipes at a sufficient rate to prevent standing water around them or any other similar problems arising due to poor drainage.
A leach field is buried in soil for a reason, which is to provide it with an environment that will support the proper functioning of the leach field; this includes providing room for gravel and root space. If you notice water pooling near your septic tank or coming up through cracks in your driveway, there’s probably something wrong with your leach field. It might be too small to handle all the wastewater produced by your household, not allowing enough time for it to drain out before more comes in; it might not have been installed far enough away from nearby trees so their roots won’t invade the trenches, or it could be clogged with debris like towels or rags accidentally flushed down toilets instead of being thrown into the trash.
When these issues are left unchecked, they can very quickly turn into much larger problems for you and your home. Standing water around the leach field invites mosquitoes to lay eggs in them, which can lead to very serious health concerns when anyone comes in contact with stagnant water that has become engorged with their larvae or adults. The roots of nearby trees or any other plants growing near the leach field will only make the problem worse, invading the pipes through small cracks they can slip through and causing backups in your system. And since it’s buried underground where most people won’t notice it until something goes wrong, a clogged leach field is often mistaken for being a sewage backup if no one actually uses their yard during winter months, when wastewater is less frequently in use for flushing toilets and washing clothes.
Unchecked or poorly managed problems with a leach field can lead to even more serious issues that will cost you much more money if they’re not repaired quickly. If pooling wastewater attracts mosquitoes carrying diseases like West Nile virus, encephalitis, or the Zika virus, your health could be at risk from coming into contact with contaminated water. In severe cases of root invasion through drainage pipes, backups in the main drain line can cause sewage to flow back up through drains inside your home without your knowledge until it’s too late; this disease-carrying waste will spread throughout every part of your house while repairs are being made if no one was around to notice it.
Avoid these kinds of health hazards and repair costs with regular maintenance of your leach field. You should inspect your leach field every season in Hudson Valley, even if you didn’t notice any issues over the wintertime when it would normally be unused. If you find cracks in the pipes or roots growing through them, remove the trees nearby that are causing problems before they make things worse. If water is pooling near your septic tank during certain times of the year instead of draining away, consider adjusting when you use it for specific tasks like flushing toilets or running the washing machine so wastewater is processed more frequently when conditions allow for faster drainage. For example, if mosquitoes are a problem in the summer months but not winter because there’s less standing water in the yard, run the washing machine more frequently in fall and winter when you won’t need to make up for lost laundry. If any backups do occur, call your septic professional at Hudson Valley Septic Pros immediately to get an evaluation of the damage and give them time to come out before colder weather sets in so repairs can be made while it’s easier to dig up yards. After all, protecting yourself from poor drainage can protect you from much worse health problems down the line.