If you have your own septic system, you've probably heard that repairing the drainfield is expensive, so you should do what it takes to protect the field where your wastewater drains. However, you may wonder how it's possible to damage soil and how it happens in the first place. Here's an overview of how a drainfield works, how damage occurs, and what type of repairs the drainfield could need. 

The Septic Tank Drainfield Filters Wastewater

A septic tank is designed to separate fats, solids, and wastewater. The fats and solids stay in the tank to be pumped out regularly. The wastewater leaves the tank and goes to a distribution box. This box has a number of drains connected to it that enter the drainfield.

The wastewater flows through the drains and into the soil where it slowly seeps down to the groundwater below. As it filters through the soil, contaminants are filtered out naturally, so the water is purified by the time it reaches the groundwater.

Clogs And Compacted Soil Damage The Drainfield

Clogs in the drains can be a problem for your drainfield. These clogs may come from solids that escape the tank when they're not supposed to. This can happen if you don't pump out the tank when it's full. Clogs can also come from tree roots that clog the lines. If solids get in the drains and drainfield, a biofilm can develop that clogs the soil and drains.

If the soil becomes compacted, that's also a problem since water can't drain through it properly. If you drive over the drainfield or build something on it, that can ruin the soil so the wastewater is no longer able to drain.

Repairs Can Save You From Moving The Drainfield

Some options for restoring the drainfield are expensive and not convenient. You could put in a brand-new field if you have room on your property. By abandoning the old field, it will eventually heal itself, but that could take a long time. If you don't want the expense and bother of putting in a new drainfield, then talk to your contractor about repair options.

The type of septic tank drainfield repairs that are suitable depends on the problem you're having. Clogs in the drainfield might be cleared by hydro jetting the lines in the same way a clogged sewer line is cleared with a water jet. It may even be necessary to replace the drain lines if they're cracked or crushed by the roots.

If the problem is compacted soil, it may be necessary to bust up the soil. This is done by fracturing the soil with high-pressure air jets that open passageways through the soil that's compacted. Then, beads are placed in the passageways to keep them open. Wastewater can still filter down through the beads, and this puts your drainfield back in operation. 

Contact a local septic tank drainfield repair service for more information.