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If your leach field becomes clogged or saturated, it can cause several problems with your home's septic system. The clog can cause sewage to back up into your home, leading to unpleasant odors and mess. A backed-up septic system can be a health hazard, particularly if the sewage starts to leach into the ground surrounding the leach field.

There are several ways to fix a saturated drain field, including cleaning out your septic tank, adding enzymes and additives to your drain system, and installing a larger septic system.

You could be smelling sewer gas in your kitchen because of a dry P-trap, clogged vent pipe, or leaking plumbing seals. If you smell a rotten egg odor, check your sink’s P-trap and plumbing connections first. A clogged or damaged vent pipe can trap sewer gas and push it back into your kitchen through the plumbing pipes. Loose or deteriorated seals around drainpipes can also allow sewer gas to leak out. If you can’t find the source, call a local plumber for expert help.

There are several signs that can indicate your leach lines are broken, failing, or in need of repair, including puddles of water or a marshy consistency to the ground above or around the pipes, slow drainage or plumbing backups inside your home, and noticeable odors or gurgling sounds coming from your leach field. Keeping your septic system properly maintained, including having your septic tank pumped at regular intervals, can help ensure your leach lines stay in good working order for a long time.

The best way to keep a septic tank clean is to hire a local septic tank cleaner to inspect and pump the septic tank every three to five years. Be sure to only flush human waste and toilet paper down the toilet, and don’t pour grease, oil, fats, coffee grounds, or food scraps into your drains.