What Should You Do if Your Septic System’s Drain Field Collapses?

Nobody wants to deal with the impact of their septic system experiencing a drainfield failure. But if you’re noticing excessive moisture in your lawn, smells of sewage near your property, or extremely long drainage times, you might want to consider the possibility that you’re dealing with drainfield collapse. Here’s a simple guide of how to identify a drainfield issue, what could be causing it, and when to contact an expert.

What to Do If You Have a Collapsed Drainfield

If you suspect your system is compromised, reaching out to a professional for drainfield repair should be your first priority. When a drainfield fails, it prevents your entire septic system from functioning properly, which can quickly escalate into a variety of more complex—and potentially costly—issues across your property.

How Does a Collapsed Drainfield Affect the Septic System? 

When a drainfield can’t properly distribute the waste that passes through the septic system, the issue spreads quickly. Any water that runs through your septic system will end up traveling back up the pipes or leaking into your yard. You can recognize a collapsed drainfield by these common signs.

Common Signs of Drainfield Failure

Over time, baffles face considerable wear and tear from waste and corrosive gases. If left unchecked, baffle problems can quickly lead to septic emergencies like clogs, backups, drainfield damage, and other messy situations.

• Mud and Puddles: A properly working drainfield should evenly disperse the septic system’s wastewater without any remnants coming up to the surface. If you notice that spots of your lawn or drainfield are particularly mushy, or even forming puddles, there’s something functioning incorrectly. 
• Pockets of Lush Grass: If your grass is suddenly growing faster or becomes a brighter green color, only in the areas of your drainfield, it’s a sign that the nutrients and water are leaking up to the surface. Although it might sound like a benefit, leaving the drainfield in this state can cause major issues down the line.
• Sewage Odors: You shouldn’t notice any smelly sewage odors in your house or near your drainfield if everything is working properly. Whether it’s a drainfield collapse or a different septic issue, if you’re smelling sewage on your property, you need to contact an expert. 
• Delayed Draining: If any of your drains, including sinks, toilets, and bathtubs, are taking longer to drain than normal, it could be a sign of drainfield failure. This could be a result of many other issues as well, so it’s important to reach out to a professional and figure out the actual cause before taking drastic action. 

Common Causes of Drainfield Collapse

Having an issue with your drainfield can be from a variety of issues. Whether it’s overuse, time, or environmental factors, we’ll help you get to the bottom of it. Here’s a few common reasons you might be experiencing a drainage failure:

• Lack of Routine Maintenance: Checking up on your septic system is an important step to keep it running. Scheduling regular inspections before an issue develops could save you from a costly repair. Older systems need routine maintenance to ensure they’re still up to current standards.
• Nearby Trees: Trees growing near your drainfield could be headed toward the moisture, which can damage drainage pipes and the overall system. 
• Compacted Soil: If you frequently have vehicles driving over your drainfield, including riding lawn mowers or other large mowers, the soil beneath your grass could be compacted. In extreme cases, the septic pipes could even be crushed. 
• Flushing Extra Water: Flooding the system with excessive amounts of water could overwhelm the drainfield and cause system backups.
• Flushing Non-Biodegradable Items: Even simple things such as “flushable” wipes, chemical cleaning solutions, and cooking grease can severely clog septic system pipes

Looking for Drainfield Repair Services in King County WA?

Puget Sound Septic is here to help. Unfortunately drainfield failures are not something that can be solved with a simple at-home solution. Depending on the severity of the issue, your home’s septic system, and the property’s environmental factors, repairs can range from simple pipe rerouting to reconstructing the entire system.

To receive a customized solution that revolves around the cause of your septic issue, contact us today.