Which is Correct – Leach Field or Drain Field?

Does your Lakeland or Plant City home have a septic system, and you are wondering which is the correct term, leach field or drain field? Have you heard both terms used when discussing it? Are you wondering what a drain or leach field is? Why does a septic system need either? How do they work? It can be confusing to a typical homeowner. Don’t worry—we have the answers you are looking for. Keep reading, and we will explain.

What is the Difference Between a Drain Field or Leach Field?

What is the difference between a drain field and a leach field? Simply put, nothing. The terms drain field and leach field are synonymous. How does it work? Let’s start by defining what a drain or leach field is; It’s crucial to the makeup of your septic system. It can’t function without it. When wastewater leaves your home, it rushes through pipes and flows into the septic tank. Your septic tank is a large underground container that collects sewage and wastewater. As sewage compiles in your septic tank, it slowly decomposes and runs into the drain or leach fields. There is a matrix of pipes that sink downward and streams from your septic tank. The pipes are lined with rocks or gravel. The soil in your yard undergoes an organic filtration process, sanitizing the waste before it reaches the groundwater.

Where Do Drain or Leach Fields Flow?

The size and location of a drain or leach field depend on a variety of factors, such as the volume of wastewater to be treated, the soil composition in your yard, and the space it requires. A field usually has multiple trenches. It is lined with heavy sand or gravel and covered with dirt.

Why is a Drain or Leach Field Needed?

Your septic system won’t perform without a series of sinking pipes running from your septic tank; it needs gravity to work. Pooling in your septic tank would create a sewage pond and a horrid smell in your yard, likely causing problems with your neighbors.

What are the Signs a Drain or Leach Field Isn’t Working?

If you see an unusually lush green grass over your septic tank, it’s probably because the drain or leach fields aren’t working correctly; it’s a clear sign that they are fertilizing the lawn so effectively. What was the cause? The sand or gravel in your drain field can become clogged or oversaturated, leaving no place for the wastewater to escape. How does it happen? It’s due to the high level of use by your family and to your septic system not being routinely serviced.

The Location of a Drain or Leach Field

Locating a drain or leach field may require obtaining documents showing the installation and location of your septic system, or hiring a professional septic service to locate it. Why is it important to know where a drain or leach field is located? If not, you may place heavy machinery, a large vehicle, or an addition to your home on top of it. It also tells you whether there are any trees or bushes nearby that could create a root blockage.

Lakeland Septic Can Fix Your Leach or Drain Fields

If you reside in the greater Lakeland, Plant City, or Polk County areas and haven’t had your septic system serviced in quite some time, contact us today. We will gladly discuss servicing your septic system. Get in touch right away, don’t wait for a sewage backup in your yard or house.