Restore Your Septic System Properly

Professional drain field replacement services available throughout Rutherford, Tennessee.

When your drain field stops absorbing wastewater, you notice pooling water in your yard, slow drains inside your home, or sewage odors around the property. In Rutherford, where clay-heavy soil can shorten the lifespan of older drain fields, these signs often mean the lateral lines have collapsed or the soil absorption capacity is gone. Innovative Ground Solutions replaces failing drain fields using careful excavation methods that keep disruption to the rest of your property minimal while restoring the ability of your septic system to process household waste.

Replacing a drain field involves removing the old distribution lines, evaluating the soil conditions, and installing new perforated pipe across a properly sized absorption area. You receive a free drain field evaluation to determine whether the existing location can be reused or if a new area on your property is required. The crew excavates trenches to the depth required by code, lays clean gravel bedding, positions the new lateral lines, and covers them with additional aggregate before backfilling with screened soil.

If you need a drain field evaluation or replacement scheduled in Rutherford, contact Innovative Ground Solutions to arrange a site visit.

What Happens During a Drain Field Replacement

Your replacement begins with excavation equipment accessing the area where the new absorption field will be installed. In Rutherford, crews mark utility lines before digging and use compact machines when working in tight or sloped yards. Trenches are cut to the required depth, and old pipe and saturated gravel are removed if the same footprint is being reused.

After the work is finished, your drains empty normally again, standing water disappears from the yard, and the septic system functions without backups or odor. The new lateral lines distribute effluent evenly across the absorption area, and the soil can process wastewater at the rate your household produces it.

The crew installs the distribution box, connects it to the outlet from your septic tank, and runs perforated pipe through each trench. Gravel surrounds the pipe to maintain airflow and filtration. Once the system is assembled and inspected, the trenches are backfilled and graded to match the surrounding terrain. You are walked through what was done and given guidance on how long to wait before planting or driving over the new field.

You probably have a few questions before moving forward

Homeowners in Rutherford often ask about timing, cost factors, and whether their existing septic tank can stay in place during a drain field replacement.

How long does a drain field replacement take?
Most residential drain field replacements are completed in two to three days depending on soil conditions, site access, and the size of the absorption area. You can typically resume normal water use as soon as the final inspection is complete.
What causes a drain field to fail?
Drain fields fail when the soil becomes saturated with solids, the distribution pipes collapse, or tree roots invade the lateral lines. Over time, the biomat layer can also clog the soil and prevent absorption.
Why does excavation need to happen even if the drain field looks intact?
The soil beneath the surface becomes compacted and saturated over years of use, which stops it from filtering wastewater. Excavation allows the crew to replace the contaminated aggregate and reestablish proper drainage in that area.
When should I schedule a drain field evaluation?
You should schedule an evaluation when you notice wet spots over the drain field area, sewage odors near the septic system, or slow drainage inside your home. Innovative Ground Solutions provides free evaluations in Rutherford.
What happens to my septic tank during replacement?
Your septic tank usually stays in place and continues to be used. The crew disconnects the outlet pipe, completes the drain field work, and reconnects everything to the new distribution box once the replacement is finished.

Innovative Ground Solutions has replaced drain fields across Rutherford for decades and understands how local soil types affect absorption and system longevity. Contact us to schedule your free drain field evaluation and receive a detailed replacement estimate.