A septic tank happens to be one of the most crucial parts of your property and therefore, it is important that you take good care of it. A worn out septic system may lead to various problems. One such problem is the formation of wet spots above the leach field. Numerous reasons may lead to the creation of such wet spots. But what causes leach field wet spots? Some of these reasons are heavy water usage, buildup of grease and oil in the drain field and a leaking septic tank pipe. Moreover, a faulty septic system design can also turn out to be a major cause for leach field wet spots.
Wet spots are tiny puddles occurring above the drain field. There are times when the flow of water through the drain field is interrupted due to a possible blockage. As a result, the water may back up into your house or may accumulate on the surface resulting in wet spots. These wet spots occur mainly when the septic system is just about to wear out. Therefore, you need to take care of the situation immediately. A delay may require you to spend a huge amount on the repairs and treatments that lie ahead.
What is the actual reason that leads to the formation of such wet spots on the drain field? In most cases, the primary cause happens to be the excessive build-up of grease and oil in the tank. The bacteria present in the system are unable to keep up with the excessive breakdown these matters and therefore, they keep on mounting up inside the tank thereby affecting the flow of water. Due to the blockage caused, water fails to find its route and forcibly moves up to the surface.
In most of the cases, the design of the septic system itself turns out to be the major cause of wet spots. While designing septic tanks, some manufacturers fail to take into consideration the environmental factors that can possibly affect the operation of the septic system. The functionality of a septic system depends on the size of its leach field, the type of soil used in the construction and the water table. If any of these factors falls short, it may result into the malfunctioning of the entire septic system.
Very few people are aware of the fact that tree roots can also play a key role in blocking the leach lines. A sudden shift in the earth or the moving of heavy equipments over the drain field may cause the leach lines to break. As a result, the water from the tank moves up to the surface and forms tiny puddles.
What should you do to solve the problem? Avoid pouring down too much fats grease and oil matter down the sink. If the wet spots are a cause of a faulty septic system design, there is very less you can do about it yourself. In this case, call up an expert technician and get it replaced. Make sure that your septic tank has sufficient amount of bacteria and consider either a maintenance or shock treatment to help alleviate the situation. Septic shock treatments are readily available and promote explosive amounts of bacteria to help reduce wet spots caused by clogs and excess buildup.