Leach fields and Tractors

[LBrown59]

When I was growing up in SD, we generally made the effort to avoid driving the tractor in areas that might suffer from the weight of the tractor. These were large Ag machines that were double the weight of the CUT's we're talking about now.

Nonetheless, soil compaction was/is a major reason why tractor and tire companies have invested alot of research dollars over the years to address.

That said, I know what part of my lawn will melt off all the snow first thing in the Spring. I also know where the grass will green up first thing as well.

Most leach fields up here are good for 7-10 years at the outside. However, if I might get another year out of my leach field by mowing it with the lawnmower vs my tractor...

The septic guy is certainly correct in his assertion that mowing with your tractor won't cause any major damage to your septic system.

But I doubt that it will "improve" the function of your system and IMO; I want the most drainage from my leach field for as long as I can get it.

Akfish

My septic tank has been draining fo 36 years without a problem.
I will never have to worry about the leach field cloging up because I don't have one.

What a leach bed really does is serve as a plug to stop the tanks drain pipe from flowing..

 

[LBrown59]

Hi:

Does mowing grass that's over a leach field (either flat or raised) with a heavy tractor vs a light lawn mower do any significant damage?

I don't have to worry about that because I don't have a leach field.

 

[Z-Michigan]

My 1 cent - and this is probably a no-brainer.... I keep my 5105 off the leach field. With FEL, filled rears and an LX6 I'm pushing close to 8000lbs. I keep it far from the leach field, actually! We have a riding mower for that area.

 

[AKfish]

Just finished hand-digging 2 post holes for my son's 4-H pig pen. Frost... er, hard frozen ground 12 inches below the surface; May 14th.

(Actually, I made him do the digging --- he ended up dipping water from the horse waterer to pour into the holes to make any progress. He was not a happy 14yr old!)

Frost line went below 9 feet up here this past winter.

For most all the northern climate folk's; it seems goofy to consider drivin' your 2-3-4 or more ton tractor back and forth across the leach field to mow the grass.

For all the moderate and southern climate folk's --- you got life good! I would have never believed the claims that somebody's (anybody's) leach field could last 25-35-40 years!!

(I might just temp the sewer genie and drive my tractor close to the clean out pipe... if I lived a whole lot farther south than I do right now!)

AKfish

 

[Nuru]

do you think adding gypsum to the water would have helped?

 

[AKfish]

Not sure. The warmer water just melted the ice and made it possible to break loose any of the dirt.

AKfish

 

[mike194]

I just built a house a few months ago with a septic tank, does any one know what the reason for having three (vent ?)pipes coming out of the ground would be for? are there three sections to the septic tank?

 

[VABlue]

I'll assume that the three pipes sticking up are between the house and the septic tank/leach field and say that they are cleanouts. If, for any reason, you think the drain pipe from the house to the tank (or tank to leach field) is clogged, you can open up one of the standpipes and clean the system easier than by digging up your yard. You probably only have one holding tank, but may have more if it's a larger house.