A leach field comprises underground perforated pipes that help distribute the effluent material from your septic tank. The effluent usually sits in the leach field before it gets absorbed into the ground. Natural filtration then takes place, and the wastewater becomes safe groundwater. 

However, poor leach field maintenance may cause it to fail and set you back a significant amount of money in repairs or leach field replacement. 

Here are the common causes of leach field failure that you should watch out for. 

Slow Drains and Draining Noises

If your toilets, sinks, and bathtubs drain excessively slow or don't drain at all, a damaged leach field may be the culprit. In most cases, a septic tank that needs to be pumped might be the reason your toilets need multiple flushes.

However, you should still check the drains in your leach field as well. With a failed leach field, waste processing halts, which causes a sludge build-up that ultimately leads to slow drains in your home. 

Another early sign of leach field failure is gurgling noises when your drains fail to vent properly due to a partial blockage. This gurgling or burping sound can originate from your toilet or other fixtures. 

Wet Spots or Standing Water in Your Yard

You shouldn't have wet or mushy spots surrounding your leach field. Ideally, the leach lines should treat the water, then allow it to soak up into the surrounding soil. So, when you see a buildup of standing water around your leach field, you probably have a flooded septic tank due to a failing leach field. 

Standing water puddles and damp spots occur when the leach field can't absorb the processed or treated water from your septic tank. Since a malfunctioning leach field may not treat the wastewater properly, the pooling water becomes a hazard on your property. 

Lush Grass and Unpleasant Odors

A lush lawn is every homeowner's dream. However, if you notice greener grass or increased vegetation growth above your leach field, chances are that your leach field is faulty. When the leach lines leak, the plants on the surface of the leach field tend to flourish due to the natural fertilizer and extra water from your septic system.

Leach field failure also causes sewage odors around your home. The odors can come from either your septic tank, the leach field, or your drain pipes. A functional septic system shouldn't produce unpleasant odors, so seek professional help right away to fix the problem.

To learn more or to have your septic tank system inspected, contact a septic service near you today.