
Originally Posted by
suemarkp
I'm not so sure covering over your field with sand/dirt was all that helpful (assuming that is what you did -- not sure). It is the water pathway out of the pipes that gets slowed down, so all adding dirt on top is doing is hiding the water. It still may flow too slow to keep up with heavy usage, so instead of puddles in the yard you'll get backups into the low point (bottom floor bathtub or shower closest to the house exit) or toilets that don't flush well.
All septic systems are a ticking time bomb. 40 to 50 years and they go off. You can do a little here and there to string it along, but at some point you'll get backups with heavy usage (especially the washing machine). Are you planning to sell soon? If not, start saving for when the first backup happens. I'd also research what it is going to take to repair/replace it. Rules have most likely changed and tanks and fields may need to be larger. Setbacks may need to be increased. IF you don't have sufficient space, or adding tanks is a huge expense (e.g. cranes), then maybe sell before it fails. Or be nice to the next buyer and fix it before you sell, especially if you think you are going to want to be there quite a while longer.