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Septic Drain Field Inspection - Home
Causes of septic absorption field failure & recommended inspection & test procedures

This article is our home page for identifying, diagnosing & repairing various types of septic system failure in the drain field, leach field, seepage bed, or similar component.

Beginning here and in more detail in specific articles that we'll recommend, we list the causes of each type of septic component failure, and list the septic component failure criteria or in other words what conditions are defined as "failure"?

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Absorption Field Failure Causes of drainfields and leaching beds

Septic drainfield cross section sketch

[Click to enlarge any image]

Is there a Septic Failure or Just a Blocked or Broken Pipe?

How can you distinguish between a blocked pipe, a septic tank that needs pumping, and a clogged drainfield that needs replacement?

This is an important question as it distinguishes between relatively low cost maintenance or repair task and a costly septic leach field replacement.

  1. If the septic tank wastewater is above the bottom of the septic tank outlet

    pipe then the level in the tank is abnormal and too high.
  2. If at the same time the effluent in the D-box or distribution box is normal,

    then probably there is a break, blockage, or damage to the effluent line between the septic tank and the D-box.
  3. If at the same time the D-box is flooded,

    then there is either a blockage between the D-box and the actual drainfield trenches and pipelines, OR the septic drainfield is flooded and in failure.
  4. If there is septic effluent at the ground surface

    in the area of the drainfield or soil absorption system, then the drainfield is in failure

We summarize causes and failure clues just below and at the page end Recommended Articles list you'll find detailed diagnosis and repair articles for each of these conditions.

Summary of Causes of soakaway bed or disposal field failures:

Septic System Soil Absorption System Failure Criteria

Expert sources and often building or sanitary codes in most jurisdictions provide a formal definition of what constitutes a septic system failure.

The septic failure criteria listed just below are intended to help avoid unnecessary argument about the condition of a septic system: your local health department may use these indicators to conclude that septic system repair is required to protect public health.

You will see that some of these septic "failure" definitions refer to an improper location of the septic effluent disposal system regardless of whether or not there is actual evidence of a sewage backup in the building or septic effluent break-out inside the building.

Other Possible Indicators of Drainfield Failure

Some of these septic failure indicators are listed as "possible" because the symptoms we list might be caused by an absorption system failure (clogged, flooded, etc.) OR the same symptoms can appear if an effluent pipe is broken or blocked between the building and the septic tank, or between septic tank and the drainfield.

See details

at SEPTIC FAILURE SIGNS

Examples of Supporting Research/Authorities on Septic Failure

...

Continue reading at SEPTIC DISPOSAL FIELD CLOGGING INSPECTION or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see SEPTIC DRAINFIELD INSPECTION & TEST FAQs - Q&A posted originally on this page.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

Suggested citation for this web page

SEPTIC DRAINFIELD INSPECTION & TEST at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.



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