Why Do Soakaways Fail and Often Need Replacing?

We all know how troublesome it can be to have a pool of water surrounding your home as a result of heavy rainfall. Soakaway crates are the perfect solution, leading to better efficiency and a long-term solution to draining wastewater.

This article will explore why you should consider a soakaway to solve your drainage problems, including:

– What a soakaway is and how it works

– The benefits of having a soakaway installed

– Things to considering before buying one

– Why they can fail and often need replacing

Why Do Soakaways Fail?

Flushing inappropriate things down the toilet, such as wipes, bleach, food and cooking oil, can cause blockages before they reach your soak away. If this has occurred, it will cause the failure of the septic tank and will be very costly to replace. 

Neglecting your septic tank may seem cost-effective in the short run since you can avoid the expense of maintenance checks. However, roots growing through the pipes of the soakaway can prevent the wastewater passing through. In addition, heavy traffic over the drainage field could cause collapsed or displaced, rendering the filtration device useless.  

The most common cause of a failed soakaway drain system is poor installation. This generally occurs when no filters have been installed, or the soakaway itself is too deep.

As well as poor installation, another common problem is a lack of planning by inexperienced businesses. Many firms do not carry out proper percolation tests. This determines the water absorption rate of soil in preparation for the building of a septic drain basin.

In turn, you may not know how quickly the intended area will drain water or how efficiently, leading to a failed soakaway system. 

What Is a Soakaway and How Does It Work? 

A soakaway is a large pit in the ground, typically found in garden areas. They can also be connected to your septic tank network to dispose of any built-up effluent, but this is a less common use for the filtration device. 

It collects excess rainwater from a drainage pipe and helps the water gradually percolate through the soil. The soakaway directs the excess water away from your building, reducing the risk of flooding and improving the stability of the ground.

Traditionally, soakaways were filled with rubble and coarse stone. However, it was soon discovered that sediment washes into the soakaway. Consequently, the space intended for water filtration becomes blocked, potentially leading to further blockages and increased flooding.

The Benefits of Soakaway Drain Systems 

There are many benefits of a soakaway drain system, including:

– You may potentially qualify for a bill rebate on surface drainage costs from your sewerage company.

– It reduces pressure on overloaded mains drainage systems.

– Soakaways are cheap and cost-effective (especially if you opt for the crate variant) and can be installed relatively easily.

– The crate variant offers superb levels of durability while requiring low levels of maintenance; ideal for areas that experience heavy traffic or loading.

– They are one of the most eco-friendly drainage methods to date.

What You Should Consider Before Buying a Soakaway

While soakaways are definitely worthwhile to invest in, it still doesn’t come without its cons:

– The pit can get blocked by dirt and leaves if it’s not fitted with a silt filter, which leads to inefficient drainage and potential waterlogging.

– If the soakaway isn’t far away enough from your building, it could cause issues for foundations, which can be costly to repair. It is advised that the filtration device is at least 5-10m away for effective functioning.

– A soakaway isn’t suitable when in the presence of poor draining soil. If you happen to live in an area where this is the case, a soakaway device is not recommended.

– The Environmental Agency can issue fines if wastewater enters the main water drain system in the area.

– Soakaways also need to be serviced and maintained every 12 months alongside the septic tank. If the septic tank has problems, you’ll notice this in the drainage field.

– It’s impossible to pinpoint an exact lifespan for a soakaway before inefficiencies start to occur. However, frequent maintenance checks will ensure it’s operational for longer.

Unblock Your Drains with DrainCall

Unblocking a soakaway is only possible if you’re a trained professional. Thankfully, here at DrainCall, we are experts when it comes to unblocking any drainage system.

Our qualified team has a wealth of experience with solving any drainage issues you may have. Contact us today and one of our team members will get back to you promptly.