How to Design a Septic Drain Field
Designing a septic drain field isn't as difficult as you think, though it does require a great deal of physical labor. If you're up for digging trenches and lifting heavy bags of gravel, this is a project that can easily be completed over the weekend by a small group of motivated individuals. Many home owners usually hire contractors to complete these types of tasks, but that's completely unnecessary. You probably already have the majority of tools necessary for the job, so why not do it yourself? Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- One piece solid pipe
- Long, 4-inch diameter perforated pipe
- Distribution box
- Shovel or back hoe
- Pipe connector
- Silicone caulk
- Gravel
Instructions
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Connect a thick piece of pipe to your septic tank.
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Attach the other end of the pipe to a distribution box. Be sure that both connected ends are sealed airtight and will not leak.
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3
Dig two or three trenches at least 15-feet long and 1-foot deep going parallel to each other away from the distribution box.
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4
Cover the bottom of each trench in several inches of evenly spread gravel.
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5
Connect the ends of each pipe to the distribution box and apply silicone caulk to make sure the connection is secure.
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6
Lay your pipes down the entire length of each trench.
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7
Cover the pipes in several more inches of gravel, then fill what's left of the trench with grass or straw and cover with topsoil.
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Tips & Warnings
Be sure that your pipes are run away from your home, driveway or any other location that will see a lot of foot traffic. You should have someone come out to do a percolation test to ensure that your land is capable of supporting a septic drain field. With some septic tanks the pipes will run directly from the tank without the assistance of a distribution box. These tanks are a bit more difficult to work with and you may require professional help.
If your septic tank is not pumped out every two to four years then it will spill over into your septic drain field, causing the field to fail. It is advised to avoid putting any toxic chemicals such as paint thinner or insecticides into your septic tank.
