Every septic system has a drainfield that keeps water contained until soil can absorb it. However, this system isn't without issues. You may have to deal with the following situations. If so, you can handle yourself by being thorough when addressing them.

Slow Draining Water

You may find your drainfield system not draining water as fast as it once did when you first had your property's septic system put in. Slow draining water usually means a clog is present. It can happen around a couple of places, including the inlet and outlet pipes.

If this is the case, you'll need to remove these clogs to restore the drainfield, helping it drain water the way it used to. If you have a way to access these pipes, you can flush them to get rid of the clog. If you can't or don't know how, hire a septic system professional to help you deal with slow draining water. 

Odors Around the Drainfield

A drainfield that is in great condition will not produce foul odors. If there are some unpleasant scents around your drainfield system, understand that this usually means a structural problem. One of the pipes could have cracked and thus is allowing wastewater to collect in the wrong places around your property.

Damaged piping that is connected to the drainfield is a problem out of your depth. Hire a contractor to safely and thoroughly get the piping fixed so that wastewater doesn't leak out and cause bad odors anymore. Responding with a repair soon should be a top priority with damage of this magnitude. 

Excessive Water Accumulation 

Your drainfield — like the septic tank itself — is designed to support a certain amount of wastewater at a time. If you exceed this amount by using too much water in the house, then you'll find problematic performance with the drainfield. 

The first thing to do if too much water has accumulated is cut back on water usage. That may be enough to allow water from the drainfield to properly distribute throughout the surrounding soil. If water is still accumulating too much, then you may need a professional to inspect the flow issues. Though hiring a professional to address this problem is fundamental, you'll still need to limit your water usage moving forward so that you're not forced into the same situation.

A fully functional drainfield is a beautiful thing if you have a septic system. You may not always experience this, but if you take responsibility in addressing repairs when there are clear signs of problems, you can restore the drainfield and move on. For more information, contact a septic tank drainfield repair service.