Leach Drain Maintenance Tips To Protect Your System

If you’re new to having a septic system, you need to know that a leach drain is one vital part of the overall system. Most people never give it a second thought—until there’s a problem!

Drain fields, or leach fields, don’t require too much maintenance or care, but regular maintenance can prevent costly repairs or replacement.

How can you maintain your leach drain? Keep reading for top tips that are easy for just about anyone!

Why Leach Drain Maintenance is Crucial for Your Property

How It Works

All waste from the drains inside your home (including the shower, sink, washing machine, and toilet) all go into a septic tank.

Solid waste will sink to the bottom of the tank while a scum layer will float on the top. Excess water, or liquid waste (also called effluent) will drain out of the septic tank and into the drain or leach fields.

The soil surrounding the area will slowly absorb the wastewater. It is handled naturally by soil bacteria, preventing this water from reaching groundwater.

No one wants to think of effluent reaching the water sources that bring fresh water into their homes. Leach drains prevent this and allow for the natural decomposition of liquid waste.

Your entire septic system (the septic tank, leach field, and surrounding soil) is designed to work together for safe, effective, and efficient waste management.

Why Does This Matter?

If you are building a new house…

Whether you are buying a house and want the drain field inspected or need a septic tank or leach drain system installed, call our experts at Superior Septics!

We specialise in new leach drain installations!

Keep Your Drain Field Clear: Things to Avoid

Most homes in Western Australia have a leach drain on their property, generally in a back or side yard, but sometimes even in a front yard.

Leach drains should have well-draining soil, away from other water sources and should not be located close to the house.

Tips To Keep Your Leach Drain Clear

When the septic system is working properly, the leach drain can work well for years. To help your drain field stay in top-notch condition, avoid the following:

Parking cars, heavy machinery, or outbuildings (such as sheds or garages) on the drain field. This can compact the soil and even damage the pipes.
Planting trees with invasive roots. Tree roots are one of the main causes of leach drain damage. You will also want to avoid planting fruit trees.
Overloading your leach drain. Limit your water usage, especially during heavy rains. Stagger your laundry and dishwasher loads to no more than one or two each day, rather than doing multiple loads in one day.
Using harsh chemicals. Chemical-based cleaning agents can kill off the friendly bacteria that naturally consume wastewater.

If you have questions about what trees are safe to plant or you think there might be blockages in your system,

Call the experts at Superior Septics today!

Signs Your Leach Drain Needs Attention

While your leach drain may never have an issue, you should call the experts at Superior Septics ASAP if you notice any of the following:

Standing water in and around the leach field
Foul odours that smell like raw sewage around the leach drain
Very green or lush grass near and around the leach drain
A black, almost slimy-looking substance near the septic tank or in the area of the leach drain
Areas near the drain field that never seem to dry out or ground that stays wet and spongy after several weeks of dry weather

Call the leach drain professionals at Superior Septics at the first sign of trouble!

Simple Steps for Regular Leach Drain Care

A properly maintained leach drain can last for 50 years! Here’s what you can do:

Have your septic tank pumped every 3-5 years or as recommended.
Stagger the usage of water to avoid overburdening the leach drain.
Never dump harsh chemicals or non-biodegradable items into the drain or toilet.
Clear the area around the leach drain of heavy items or debris.
Divert runoff from rain gutters away from the leach drain.
Have professionals inspect the septic system and leach drain every 3-5 years.
Call the experts at Superior Septics if you find any unusual activity or have questions about your septic or leach drain system.

If you have questions about a possible clogged pipe or believe your septic system isn’t working properly, avoid costly repairs by talking to one of our friendly staff members as soon as possible.

How Professional Leach Drain Inspections Can Save You Money

By spotting and/or repairing small problems, you can avoid paying for larger, more expensive repairs.

Experts, such as the team at Superior Septics, can spot blockages and prevent overflows.

Our professionals will check for cracked or blocked pipes, compacted soil, saturated soil, and invasive tree roots causing problems with your wastewater system.

We will inspect the entire system, ensure that all aspects are working properly, and optimise the performance of your liquid waste disposal structure.

Regular pump-outs and inspections of the leach drains will also lead to a longer lifespan for the entire wastewater system.

The Benefits of Professional Leach Drain Maintenance

We often receive calls from homeowners in Western Australia who say they “would have called earlier but…”

Don’t wait until a small problem becomes an expensive headache.

The average leach drain installation costs $5,000! Those in larger homes can cost up to $10,000.

Depending on the problem, you can have a simple repair made for $500!

Everyone with a septic tank will benefit from professional leach drain maintenance. Enjoy optimal performance and decades of worry-free use, not to mention that you help protect the environment and comply with local regulations.

When to Call in the Experts for Leach Drain Maintenance

If you notice any unusual activity in or around your septic tank or leach drain, it could allow liquid waste to enter the underground water tables.

Call the experts at Superior Septics!

If someone else did your leach drain installation, don’t worry! We will be happy to help with whatever problem it is you are having.

Even if you aren’t sure whether you have a problem, you can talk to our friendly staff and they will be happy to offer advice regarding your leach drain or septic tank.