How to Troubleshoot Drainfields and Yards

Previously I discussed looking at troubleshooting indicators in the residence, but another area of concern when an onsite system is experiencing problems is the drainfield. In this article, I'll walk you through troubleshooting a drainfield and its surroundings. First, distribution, dropboxes, or valve boxes should be located and opened. It continues to amaze me how often I discover there's no distribution box underground — even though plans from local permitting authorities indicate there's a distribution box — and I find distribution through a series of pipes and elbows. The first task is determining that all of the parts of the drainfield distribution system are