redman2
Member
For some reason, when the previous owners decided to install a new leach field ( chambers) for the house, they decided to abandon the old lines ( pipe & rocks), instead of using a diverter valve to alternate between fields. Old lines were installed in 1986, new lines installed in 2005. It's been almost 20 years and noticed a lot of water intrusion during heavy rains. Ever since we moved in this house I kept thinking about the fact that it will come the time to deal with the leach line replacement. At the same time, I keep thinking about the old field.... and I think it would be worth trying to locate the old lines and install a diverter valve to let the new field recover. I'd rather don't wait until the field will fail.....
I pretty much know where the old lines are ( sketch from 2005 installation + trenched and found the rock bed) but there is a potential issue: in 2008 there were Pepper trees planted on top of the section where the old leach lines were installed . Considering there was no effluent draining into the old field, by the time the pepper trees were planted, how bad can the damage be? Will it be worth the money to hire someone with an excavator to help locate and check condition of the old lines or most probably they are useless because of the root intrusion ( even dry)?
I spoke with a couple of septic repair companies about my hope to find and reuse the old drain field and their first thought was : they would be in bad shape due to root intrusion.
However, I've seen/learned about septic leach lines installed in the middle of the forest and that gives me hope that my pepper trees should have not caused more damage than a forest (with larger trees) . I hope this makes sense.
So the options are:
1-Locate and try to reuse the old leach lines. Exploration of the old leach field and installation of a diverter box would cost about $4,500 ( potentially max $3,500 just for locating and assessing the condition of the old field) but would re-use the same section of the yard ( save space and still leave room for one more drain field, if needed).
If roots are indeeed showing during a video inspection, will it be possible to restore them : cut /remove the roots with a jetter ,to make them functional again ? I am willing to cut the pepper trees ( and try to kill the stumps) if that will make the old leach lines last longer ( root free).
2- Install a new drain field ( pipe + rock) and a diverter valve. This would cost $13k-$15k and would take the last section of yard available.
I suspect that companies prefer to install a new system instead of trying to repair an old one. I am posting here hoping to hear from people who dealt with root intrusion and know the damage it can cause to a drain field .... maybe even restored root damaged drain fields. Were you able to recover such fields ? What would you recommend?
Thanks in advance!
I pretty much know where the old lines are ( sketch from 2005 installation + trenched and found the rock bed) but there is a potential issue: in 2008 there were Pepper trees planted on top of the section where the old leach lines were installed . Considering there was no effluent draining into the old field, by the time the pepper trees were planted, how bad can the damage be? Will it be worth the money to hire someone with an excavator to help locate and check condition of the old lines or most probably they are useless because of the root intrusion ( even dry)?
I spoke with a couple of septic repair companies about my hope to find and reuse the old drain field and their first thought was : they would be in bad shape due to root intrusion.
However, I've seen/learned about septic leach lines installed in the middle of the forest and that gives me hope that my pepper trees should have not caused more damage than a forest (with larger trees) . I hope this makes sense.
So the options are:
1-Locate and try to reuse the old leach lines. Exploration of the old leach field and installation of a diverter box would cost about $4,500 ( potentially max $3,500 just for locating and assessing the condition of the old field) but would re-use the same section of the yard ( save space and still leave room for one more drain field, if needed).
If roots are indeeed showing during a video inspection, will it be possible to restore them : cut /remove the roots with a jetter ,to make them functional again ? I am willing to cut the pepper trees ( and try to kill the stumps) if that will make the old leach lines last longer ( root free).
2- Install a new drain field ( pipe + rock) and a diverter valve. This would cost $13k-$15k and would take the last section of yard available.
I suspect that companies prefer to install a new system instead of trying to repair an old one. I am posting here hoping to hear from people who dealt with root intrusion and know the damage it can cause to a drain field .... maybe even restored root damaged drain fields. Were you able to recover such fields ? What would you recommend?
Thanks in advance!