Your drainfield plays an important part in the proper functioning of your septic system. If your drainfield is not functioning properly, your septic system will not be able to safely drain gray water, and this will eventually result in the system overflowing and backing up into your home. The hard part is, without the benefit of x-ray vision or ground-penetrating radar, you can't actually see what is going on in your drainfield. However, this does not mean that it is impossible for you to detect the need for septic tank drainfield repairs before you experience sewage backing up into your home. While you may not be able to see the actual cause of the problem with your naked eye, you can learn to spot the warning signs that your septic system is in need of repair. 

Slow Drains Inside Your Home

There are several reasons why the drains in your home may be running slower than usual. For instance, if your septic tank is in need of pumping, this can cause your drains to run slower. A single drain may also be running slow as the result of a clog. However, if you have already ruled out these possibilities, there is a good chance that the source of your problem is a clog in the line leading from your septic tank to your drainfield. If this line becomes clogged with solid waste or sludge, it will be much more difficult for wastewater to pass through the pipe and into your drainfield. This slows the rate at which new wastewater can be introduced into your septic tank and will ultimately result in slower drains inside your home. While having your septic tank pumped will temporarily fix this problem, you will find that the tank becomes full again rather quickly if you do not also address the need for drainfield repairs. 

Extraordinarily Green Grass

If the pipe leading from your septic tank to your drainfield is leaking or if solid waste is making its way through this pipe, the grass in your drainfield will be enjoying the benefit of extra water and nutrients. The end result of this will be grass that is much greener than the grass in the rest of your yard. You may also notice that the grass in your drainfield needs to be cut more often than the rest of the yard since the extra nutrients it is receiving with often accelerate its growth rate. 

High Ground Water Levels

If your drainfield is not functioning properly, you will also notice that the ground water levels in this area of your yard are much higher. This can result in soil that feels soft when you walk on it or puddling on the top of the soil that seems to take an abnormally long time to be absorbed. If you notice either of these symptoms when inspecting your drainfield, you should contact a septic tank drainfield repair contractor in your local area as soon as possible.