While Auburndale has grown into a vibrant suburban community, many homeowners still rely on their septic systems, especially in charming, vintage neighborhoods such as the downtown historic district and the Heights.
For nearly two decades, Lakeland Septic has been Polk County’s leading contractor for drain field service, including installations, repairs, and replacements to keep your septic system running smoothly.
How Your Drain Field Works
Your drain field is a vital component of your home’s wastewater treatment system. When wastewater flows directly into your underground septic tank. Inside the tank, solids settle to the bottom as sludge, while oils and grease float to the top as scum.
The relatively clear liquid in the middle is the effluent that exits the tank and flows into the drain field. While your drain field may look like an ordinary gravel-filled trench on the surface, buried slightly below is a network of perforated pipes, usually made of PVC. These PVC pipes are the heart of your drain field operation, but can be damaged if cars, trucks, or heavy equipment drive over them. As the effluent slowly flows into the drain field, it trickles out of the pipes into the surrounding soil. The soil acts as a neutralizer, purifying the water which re-enters the groundwater.
Why Drain Field Inspections Are Essential in Auburndale, FL
Our heavy rains and high-water table can oversaturate the drain field, making it harder for the soil to absorb and filter effluent. Annual drain field inspections allow us to monitor how well your septic system is performing, ensure your soil remains receptive, and catch minor blockages before they cause a sewage backup into your home.
Signs Your Drain Field Needs Service
Your drain field will often give you clues that something is wrong. Call a professional immediately if you notice:
- Standing Water: Pools of water or unusually muddy patches forming over or near the absorption area in the absence of rain.
- Lush, Vibrant Grass: A strip of grass over the drain field that is noticeably greener and growing faster than the rest of your lawn is a sign of excess wastewater.
- Foul Odors: The distinct smell of raw sewage or sulfur is a clear sign that something is wrong with your drain field.
- Slow Drains: Sinks, showers, and toilets that drain slowly or make gurgling sounds, often indicating that wastewater has nowhere to go because the field is backed up.
- Sewage Backups: Sewage backing up into your home requires emergency septic service.
When Drain Field Replacement Is Necessary
While minor pipe blockages can often be remedied with repairs, other damage may require a partial or complete replacement of the drain field.
Typically, a drain field has a lifespan of 25 to 30 years. However, after decades of continuous use, or if your household has outgrown its original system, the soil beneath the pipes naturally becomes clogged with a biomat layer that permanently prevents water absorption. Replacement is also necessary if the underground infrastructure has been physically crushed, such as from heavy vehicles or equipment driving over the yard, or if tree and shrub roots have damaged the perforated pipes.
We Do New Drain Field Installations, Too
Are you building a new home on a beautiful parcel of undeveloped land in Auburndale or Polk County? Or, are you adding to your current property and need a larger septic system? Lakeland Septic has extensive experience and regularly installs new drain fields and septic systems.
Call Lakeland Septic for Professional Drain Field Service in Auburndale
When you need service for your drain field, it often indicates an issue with your septic system, and there is no time to waste. Lakeland Septic is a Florida-licensed contractor that offers fast, emergency response to service your septic and drain field. So, when your septic system or drain field is acting up, call us or complete our short online form to request service. Our expert crews service the entire Auburndale and Polk County area, including Winter Haven, Lake Alfred, Combee Settlement, and Lynchburg.
