It's important to consider the life expectancy of a drain field, too. Under normal conditions and good care, a leach field will last for 50 years or more.
How Long Do Drain Fields Last? A septic drain field, when properly maintained, can typically last between 20 to 30 years.
A well-designed leach field will last between 15 and 50 years. The dramatic lifespan difference is based on several factors, including: Maintenance – Regular inspections and pumping every 5-10 years can extend the field's functional life.
When the drainfield fails, or is saturated with water, sewage may backup into the home. Wet, soggy areas may develop above or near the drainfield and you may see spongy bright green grass over the area. There may also be odors near the tank or drainfield.
Your home insurance may cover damage to your septic tank, leach field and connecting pipes if the damage is caused by a sudden, accidental event the policy covers, such as fire, hail and lightning. However, it's important to read your policy carefully to check for exclusions.
Put plastic sheets, bark, gravel or other fill over the drainfield. Reshape or fill the ground surface over the drainfield and reserve area. However, just adding topsoil is generally OK if it isn't more than a couple of inches.
In most cases, homeowners insurance does cover septic tank damage when it results from a sudden, unexpected event (as you might have noticed from the above list). However, home insurance is not likely to cover damage resulting from septic system problems caused by wear and tear or lack of maintenance.
Conclusion. A saturated leach field can be a serious problem for septic systems, but it can be fixed in most cases. By using the right biological additives, you can break down the biomat and restore the flow of water through the leach field fixing the entire septic system.
The average cost to pump a septic tank is about $395, but prices can vary widely, from $294 to $514. Several factors can influence the final price, including: Size of the tank: Larger tanks require more time and effort to pump, which can raise costs.
You can use a sewer jetter to clean perforated PVC septic leach field lines from 2" to 6" ID. A sewer jetter can help you scrub away sticky sludge and flush out dirty residue to help reduce the need for subsequent cleaning of the lines.
In order to keep your septic system running properly, you should avoid building on or near your leach field. While it's important to follow state and local building codes, plan to break ground at least 10 to 20 feet from where your leach field is buried.
Usually they are around 3 feet deep. If it's too shallow water will saturate the topsoil and be a smelly mess. Too deep and you can pollute the ground water if you are on a well system for drinking water. It's always a good idea to test the water periodically to insure there hasn't been any contamination.
They become reproductively mature in about a year. A leech can live from 2–8 years.
The surrounding area is wet, mushy or even has standing water: If you notice puddles or pooling in the area of your yard that houses your leach field, it could mean that there are cracks or breaks in the pipes. These cracks allow an excess of water to be released into the drainfield that can't be absorbed.
Inspect and Pump Frequently
The average household septic system should be inspected at least every three years by a septic service professional. Household septic tanks are typically pumped every three to five years.
Using a septic tank pumping frequency chart , you can get a good idea of how often you should have your septic tank pumped out. For instance, if your home has a 1000-gallon septic tank that's used by a family of five, the pumping frequency chart recommends having your tank cleaned out every two years.
2022 Septic vs Sewer Results: Homes on Septic Sell for 17% More per Sq. Ft. and Sell 30% Faster than on Public Sewer. If you were thinking that switching to public sewer from your current septic system would increase your home value, think again.
Your homeowners insurance should cover septic system damage as long as your policy includes coverage for other structures. Other structures often include the fence that surrounds your backyard and your swimming pool. You can file a claim if you can prove that the problem did not occur due to neglect on your part.
For instance, a steel septic tank can be expected to last between 15 and 20 years, while a concrete tank could last up to 40 years under the right conditions. A leach field, however, can easily last up to 50 years if properly maintained and protected.
Personal expenses are not deductible. However, because the replacement of a septic system is considered an improvement to the property, the cost is added to the property's adjusted basis and will reduce the gain when the property eventually will be sold.
Your septic tank is considered a part of your home, which means it is covered by your homeowners policy in cases of sudden damage. However, any damage that's caused by neglect or a lack of maintenance will not be covered.
Although replacing your home's septic system can be expensive and unexpected, there are many ways to cover the cost. Government-funded loan programs, grant programs, home equity financing, and contractor loans are just some of the ways you can access septic system funds.