Whether you’ve recently purchased a home with a septic system or just want to do some maintenance work on your existing setup, it’s important to understand your system and how it works.
One thing you may find yourself wondering is where exactly the tank and drain field are located. Unfortunately, finding these two essential components isn’t always as easy as it may seem. Still, as part of being a responsible owner, it’s critical to perform routine septic system inspections to look for signs of trouble.
So, how do you find your drain field if you aren’t sure where it’s located?
Do A Visual Inspection
While most of your septic system’s components won’t be clearly visible at a glance, you may be able to find signs of your drain field, especially if it hasn’t been too long since the builders installed it.
Slowly take a walk around your property, looking and feeling for any high or low spots in the ground. This could indicate a drain field or septic tank buried below.
Remember, you will not typically find your septic system within 5 feet of your home, so you can start looking a little farther out.
Spots, where the grass is extra thick and green, can sometimes indicate a leaking septic tank adding fertilizer to the soil. It’s good for the plants but not for your home, so you want to have that checked out immediately.
You can also look for a cleared area in an otherwise tree-filled or rocky landscape.
Check For Records Or Drawings
One of the simplest ways to locate your drain field is to refer to the plans or drawings used during the septic system design and installation process. In most areas, the company would have been required to file the plans with the local permitting office, so you may be able to retrieve them even if you don’t have your own copy.
The diagram showing your drain field’s location is also sometimes called the “as-built,” and you may find it attached to your home inspection.
Start At The Septic Tank
If you know where your septic tank is located, you can use that as a starting point to find the drain field. Once you’re at the septic tank, the tank’s outlet will indicate the effluent drain line’s location. This line will lead to the leach field or drain field.
However, you should keep in mind that not every septic system has a drain field. And there are many different types of drain fields to consider.
Call An Inspector Or Septic System Professional
If you recently purchased a home with a septic system, it’s always a good idea to have it inspected. Besides checking for any signs of trouble and ensuring your system is in good working condition, an experienced professional should be able to locate your drain field quickly.
Typically, someone who is experienced in septic systems and drain fields can tell where the possible location could be just by looking at the property. By considering the size, soil condition, elevation, topography, and so on, they will have a good idea of where the drain field is located.
Why Should You Know Your Drain Field’s Location?
Knowing where your drain field is located will help you care for and preserve it. Not only that, it’s essential to monitor all parts of your septic system for signs of failure.
You should avoid driving over your drain field, building on or near the area, and planting trees or other vegetation in the drain field. Driving or parking heavy vehicles or machinery on the drain field can cause damage, and you don’t want to cover drain field access with a driveway or other structure.
Tree roots and other plant systems can cause serious damage to your septic system, so you never want to landscape on top of the drain field or septic tank.
Let All Septic & Sewer Find, Inspect, And Maintain Your Drain Field And Septic System
Your home’s septic system is a critical part of its infrastructure. Whether you need a simple septic system inspection or more complex drain field repairs, our experts have over 20 years of trusted service to meet all your septic system needs.
Don’t wait for a septic backup or puddling in your yard to look at your septic system. An experienced pro can provide you with repair and maintenance recommendations to prevent those kinds of major issues before they occur.
Give us a call today or contact us using our online form. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for more tips and information about septic system care and maintenance.