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Licensed & Insured
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How Does Drain Field Work?
3 Things You Need to Know

how does drain field work

If your house has a septic system, you might be wondering how does a drain field work? A drain field is very vital to the disposal of your house wastewater. Read on to know all about drain fields.

Drain or leach fields are critical to the successful operation of your septic system. They eliminate and separate the waste from water after it has left your septic tank.

Like septic tanks, you also need to take care of the drain field. Only to throw things that are septic-friendly and to provide it with care and maintenance.

Throughout this article, we are going to talk about three things: What is a drain field, how does a drain field work, and how to maintain your septic system.

Without any further ado, let us dive in for an interesting read.

1. What is a drain field?

A drain field is an important part of your septic system. It is like a sewage treatment plant but in the yard of your home. It is designed to treat and separate the waste from the water before the clean water seeps into the ground.

All septic systems have a drain field. All the wastewater that exits your house ends up in the septic tank. The organic bacteria inside the tank separate the waste from the water and only release the effluent to the drain field.

Next, this water is fed into perforated pipes below the surface. These pipes distribute the clean water over a land of soil and gravel where it receives the last phase of treatment before it seeps into the underground water supplies.

To know more about septic tanks, read our recent blog: How do septic tanks work? 10 things you need to know

2. How does a drain field work?

A drain/leach field receives only the clean water from the septic tank via the outlet effluent filters. Then the bacteria clean the liquid further and it seeps through the holes in the pipes to a large land of gravel and soil.

How does a drain field work is entirely connected to the existence of a distribution box. The distribution box lies between the septic tank and the drain field. It receives the septic tank effluent and distributes it evenly to a network of drain lines.

The even distribution of the effluent leads to a longer leach field’s lifetime. An uneven distribution causes damage to the leach field and can lead to saturation.

Distribution boxes are made of concrete or plastic. They have holes that control the distribution of water to the leach lines. They come in different sizes and shapes. It all depends on the size of your septic tank and what septic system you have.

3. How to keep your drain field in great shape

Taking preventive measures is a great course of action to keep your onsite sewage system healthy and in shape. It spares you costly repairs and prevents contamination and diseases.

To have a long-living septic system, it is not only important to know how does a drain field work, but also to know how to take care of it:

  • Only flush things that are septic-friendly.
  • Never flush down coffee grounds, diapers, cooking oil, cigarettes, feminine products, cat litter, or chemicals. They could clog the septic system.
  • Avoid using additives. They kill the bacteria that breaks down the wastewater.
  • Use low-water consuming toilets and showerheads. That is because too much water flushes out the tank quickly.
  • Don’t overload your septic tank (expanding the house and overwhelming the septic system)
  • Don’t park or drive over the drain line. This can damage the pipes.
  • Grow plants or trees far from the leach field. Their roots can damage the drainage field.
  • Pump the septic tank out every two to three years.

All in all, drain fields are an important component of your septic system. A septic system cannot function without a leach field. Educating yourself about drain lines, what is a drain field, and how does a drain field work is important to the longevity of your septic system.

At Septic Works LLC, we specialize in all things that are septic. Our septic specialists are fully licensed and insured. Our prices are competitive and all residential, commercial and municipal clients seek our specialized services.

Our septic inspectors provide an easy and frictionless experience. Our customer service agents are available anytime you need any help. If you have any questions about how does a drain field work or any other septic issue, call us today at 912-666-2210.