When it comes to home maintenance, few things are more important than maintaining a septic system. Many homeowners do not even know where their septic drain field is, particularly if they purchased the residence years after it was constructed. Records can get lost over time, and parts of the system may be covered over by landscaping or grass. A great option for locating this portion of your septic system is a special tracing dye.
What Is a Septic Drain Field?
A septic drain field, sometimes known as a leach field, is the area on your property where the pipes in your septic system filter the wastewater as it comes from the septic tank. Once it reaches the drain field, the water seeps slowly through the soil, where it is naturally cleansed before returning to the groundwater. A blocked, clogged, or damaged drain field can present itself through the problems it causes, such as slow drains, bad smells, or even sewage backing up into the house.
This is why you need to know the location of your drain field. Knowing enables you to keep tabs on it, and you can also avoid planting trees in this area and parking vehicles there.
How Does Dye Tracing Work?
Dye tracing is a procedure in which a special, colored dye is introduced to study the movement of water in a system. In this case, a plumber uses a non-toxic, brightly colored dye, which is flushed down the system via a toilet or sink. The dye swirls in the wastewater and moves through the pipes to the septic tank and the drain field.
The dye may take anywhere from several minutes to several hours to travel through your system. Once the dye is done moving through, you will be able to see it on the surface of the ground as you walk through your yard. If the dye is visible in a particular spot, that’s often a sign that it’s in the drain field.
Benefits of Using Dye
Dye is a cheap and easy way to locate the septic drain field. The dyes implemented are typically biodegradable and eco-friendly. They are available in colors like red, green, or blue, standing out for easy visibility. This is a great method, especially if you do not have a system map or you suspect your drain field might be failing.
Another advantage is that dye testing provides some assistance in identifying leaks or system malfunctions. If some dye appears where it shouldn’t, such as in a ditch or nowhere near where the drain field ought to be, that can indicate a breach in the system or an overcharging issue.
Professionals can make sure the test is conducted correctly and that your system functions optimally. Reach out to Straight Flush Septic for septic repair and maintenance services in Winston-Salem, NC.
