How to Find a Leach Field on Your Property
No need to look high and low
If you've got a septic system, it's working hard behind the scenes, whisking wastewater out of your home and into a nearby leach or drain field. While it may not be something you think about often, knowing how to find your leach field is critical if there's a problem with your septic system. Knowing where the leach field is can also help you make landscaping and exterior design plans.
What Is a Leach Field?
Sometimes called a drain field, a leach field is an area in your yard where your septic system's wastewater flows. Leach fields are located underground and typically consist of several pipes and trenches.
Liquid waste flows from your system's septic tank into the pipes. Once the liquid reaches the area of the leach field, it filters through the pipes into the surrounding soil, where microbes break down any remaining contamination.
The size of your leach field depends on the size of your home. Usually, it's recommended that you have about 100 feet of trenches per bedroom.
How Much Does It Cost to Locate a Leach Field?
The cost to locate a leach field can be between $400 and $700. This typically includes hiring a septic tank company to inspect your property and locate not only the leach field but also the septic tank and your plumbing.
The inspector may recommend a perc test for your septic, which measures how quickly the soil can absorb and filter water. A perc test costs an average of $1,300.
How to Identify a Leach Field
From above ground, a leach field is pretty nondescript. It usually looks like a flat area of your yard, without any buildings or landscaping on it. You may be able to spot a leach field more easily if there's a problem. When your system becomes clogged or overwhelmed, water may start to pool in the drain field, creating a muddy mess.
How to Find a Leach Field
You can locate your home's leach field in a few ways. One of the simplest options is to consult the plans or map your local septic tank company provided when they installed the system. In many areas, plans must be submitted when applying for a permit to install a new septic system and leach field.
1. Inspect Your Property
Starting about 10 feet away from your home or any other structures on your property, walk around, looking for an area that is lower or higher than the rest of the yard.
You may also notice that there's a clearing, without any trees or other plants. Since planting on a leach field isn't recommended, that can be a sign that that is where yours is located.
Another thing to look out for is grass that looks lusher than the rest of your lawn. If there's a leak in the leach field or your septic tank, the soil around is getting extra fertilizer, leading to greener grass. While it may make part of your lawn look amazing, a leak is never a good thing, so it's worthwhile to have a septic tank company come out and take a look.
2. Locate Your Septic Tank
Think of your septic tank as the arrow that will point you in the right direction toward your drain field. You may be able to see the tank's lid on your lawn. If not, you can use a soil probe to locate it. Once you've got the tank in your sights, follow the outlet toward the leach field. There should be about 10 feet between the tank and the leach field.
Not sure how to find your septic tank? A septic system company can look for the leach field for you. A professional may have special tools they can use to trace the pipes that extend from your septic tank into the drain field.
Taking Care of a Leach Field
If all is going well with your septic system, your leach field shouldn't need too much attention or maintenance from you. One of the best ways to take care of your leach field is to take care of your septic system. You can do that by:
Not sending grease or solids down any of your home's drains.
Only flushing toilet paper and human waste.
Limiting how many laundry loads you do per day to spread out water usage and avoid overloading your system.
Scheduling regular septic system inspections and septic tank cleanouts.
You also want to be careful about anything you put on top of or near the leach field. Ideally, any buildings on your property will be located at least 10 feet from the field. Since the area above the drain field can't support a lot of weight, avoid parking vehicles on it.
It's also a good idea to avoid planting trees near or on top of the field, as their roots can interfere with the pipes and trenches below.
DIY Finding a Leach Field vs. Hiring a Pro
While you can locate your home's leach field yourself, you may feel more confident hiring a professional to do the job for you. A septic tank company should be able to trace the location of your drain field. Another option is to call a local plumber to do the job.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your leach field becomes clogged or saturated, it can cause several problems with your home's septic system. The clog can cause sewage to back up into your home, leading to unpleasant odors and mess. A backed-up septic system can be a health hazard, particularly if the sewage starts to leach into the ground surrounding the leach field.
There are several ways to fix a saturated drain field, including cleaning out your septic tank, adding enzymes and additives to your drain system, and installing a larger septic system.
Think of a leach field and septic tank as the peanut butter and jelly of wastewater management. They go together. However, it is possible to have a septic tank without a leach field, as some types of septic systems don't require them. For example, your home may have a septic mound rather than a leach field or a sand filtration system, instead.
You may want to increase the size of your leach field, for instance, if you add on to your home or install more bathrooms in your house. You can make your leach field larger by installing more pipes or expanding the area of the field itself. Improving the soil quality in the drain field can also make it more effective without increasing the area.
