Septic lines

[Wastedwagesracing]

I know this is somewhat area specific. But in general do septic drain lines need to run below the frost line?

 

[Bender78]

Well, frozen ground does not drain, and frozen pipes do not flow, so I would imagine that a leach field needs to be below frost line.

 

[bjaspud]

I just bought my first house with a septic field. The home is 20 years old. The inspector walked me through the septic inspection and declared everything up to code. My leach field lines are buried just 1 foot under the surface.

 

[mikefromme]

Well, frozen ground does not drain, and frozen pipes do not flow, so I would imagine that a leach field needs to be below frost line.

And you would be wrong


The effluent drains through the system Without freezing.

 

[Kevin54]

Yep, only a foot or so below. In the summer during hot dry spells, you can see where peoples leach fields are. The grass will be all dry except where the leach field fingers are.

 

[Wastedwagesracing]

Okay thanks, That gives me more to ponder on.

 

[Bender78]

And you would be wrong


The effluent drains through the system Without freezing.

'Spose I could be; I'm not a septic installer. I do know when mine was installed the legs were down about three feet. Now, that's not well below frost line in these parts in the worst winters, but I guess it works OK. It's been there for 27 years.

 

[6768rogues]

Septic lines are not far below the surface because evaporation and absorption by plants are important parts of the process.

 

[Sureshot]

I think it will be fine as they are using that system. We don't use it here. It would freeze.

 

[Angelfire]

I have a septic at a cabin where the frost line is 48". The septic tank top itself sits about 12-16" below the surface and the lines are probably 18-20" below. Never seen issues (fingers crossed). It's not unusual to see temps during winter of -25 to -35F with the occassional -40.