When you're having problems with your septic system, such as clogged drains or sewage spilling in the yard, the first step is to locate the source of the problem. The septic repair contractor may need to check the drains, tank, distribution box, and drainfield.
While you might be familiar with how the tank and drainfield work, you may not know much about the distribution box. Here's a look at the purpose of the box, how it becomes damaged, and septic repairs that might be needed when the box fails.
The Purpose of a Septic Distribution Box
The distribution box is responsible for distributing wastewater from the tank to the drainfield. A drain connects the septic tank to the box. A baffle is in place to stop solids that may be in the wastewater, and then the water pours in the box and empties through the exit drains. There are multiple drains leaving the box and going to the drainfield so wastewater can be distributed evenly.
Problems That Develop in the Distribution Box
Some new distribution boxes are made of plastic, but many boxes already in place are made of concrete. Concrete can crack when the soil shifts or when tree roots try to burrow through to get to water. When cracks develop, wastewater can leak to the surface of your lawn.
The concrete sides of the box can even corrode away and develop large leaks. Tree roots can also infiltrate the box and the drains that exit the box or lead to it. This can cause clogging that makes sewage back up in your home.
Septic Repairs That Can Help
When pipes are clogged with tree roots, the plumber might use a hydro jet to clean the pipes and box so they are completely free of roots, and water flows as it should. If roots have caused a pipe to crack or collapse, the pipe may need to be dug up and replaced so wastewater doesn't leak from it as it leaves the box.
It might be possible to patch a crack in the distribution box, but if the box is crumbling or has a lot of damage, digging up the box and replacing it might be the best thing to do. The first step in repairing a distribution box is to locate it. If you have no idea where it is, and you don't have a property map to refer to, you may need a septic repair contractor to use locating tools to find the box.
A distribution box is usually buried deep under the soil so the tank and distribution lines drain using gravity. It will be between the tank and the drainfield somewhere. You might stumble on it using a long rod you push in the ground, but you may need the contractor to find the box and mark it so you know where it is in the future.
Repairing a distribution box may require a lot of digging in your yard. The contractor has to dig down to the box, and they may also need to dig along the drains to find the source of the septic system problem and repair it.
For more information, contact a septic repair company.
