Repair or replace? How to tell if your leach field is done

When a septic system backs up, the first quote many homeowners hear is for a whole new system. Sometimes that is right. Often it is not. The honest answer starts with finding the part that failed.

Problems that can usually be repaired

• A broken or crushed pipe. Common where a vehicle has driven over the line.
• A damaged distribution box. If the box has tipped or cracked, one part of the field gets all the water and the rest gets none.
• A clogged outlet filter or a broken baffle. These sit in the tank and are quick to fix.
• A failed pump, float or alarm on a pressure-dosed system.
• Roots in the line.

See septic repair for how these are priced.

Problems that usually mean a new field

• The soil is clogged. Over the years a layer builds up in the soil under the field and stops water from soaking in. Once the whole field is like that, it does not recover.
• The field is too small. A system sized for a smaller household, or for fewer bedrooms than the house has now, will stay overloaded.
• The field has been damaged. Driving, paving or building over a field can crush it.

Does the tank have to go too?

Not always. If the tank is sound and large enough for the house, it can often stay. The county has the final say, because a replacement has to meet current rules.

How to find out

1. Have the tank pumped and looked at while it is empty.
2. Have the lines and the distribution box checked.
3. If those are fine, the field itself is the problem.

What a replacement costs

A leach field replacement is priced by the soil, the system type and the access. For a full system:

Most installs start around $15,000. The final price comes after a site visit, because soil, system type, home size and access set it. The county permit, soil test and design are extra and quoted separately, so your total may vary.

If you already have a written quote for a replacement, bring it to us before you sign. We will beat it. Call or text (720) 273-0109.