How to Get the Most Out of Your Firepit over Drain Field
Having a Firepit over Drain Field in the backyard can provide excellent outdoor time with family and friends, cooped up under the stars. What if your best outdoor space happens to be over a drain field? Well, it is possible to set up a firepit in this area, but here are a few things you should consider to make sure you get the most out of it without damaging the drain field. Here is how you can enjoy using your firepit while not harming your drain field.
1. Understand what a drain field does.
Before you start putting anything on your drain field, you’ll want to know what it is for. A drain field, otherwise called a leach field, is the area of your septic system where wastewater is filtered back into the ground. Drain fields consist of pipes, which happen to be pretty sensitive and only lie a few inches beneath the surface, meaning that you have to be gentle not to damage them with too much heavy load or too much heat.
2. Choose a Portable Firepit
Instead of having a permanent installed firepit, choose a portable one which you are able to move around as you see fit. This would help not to put too much weight on any one spot and thereby not damage the underground pipes. The portable firepit allows you to enjoy your fire wherever it’s safest but protects your drain field.
3. Reduce Weight Over the Drain Field
Heavy items, such as stone or brick firepits, compact the soil overlying the drain field and may lead to system failure. Firepits of lightweight materials should be used, such as metal or ceramic, and the size of the Firepit over Drain Field not so large. Keeping it lightweight, you will be avoiding any extra weight that would put pressure on the drain field.
4. Avoid Excessive Heat
Long-term heat may affect the soil and the pipes beneath your firepit. When using your firepit, avoid long burning over the drain field. It could dry out the soil to a point it is not as effective in filtering the water out, and can even damage the septic pipes in the process. An easy solution for this is to use a firepit with its base jacked up or one that dissipates heat more evenly.
5. Create a Firepit Pad or Base
If you must have your firepit in the same place over your drain field, you may want to consider a firepit pad. A gravel or paver pad will distribute the weight and heat over a larger area, lessening the impact on the soil directly beneath it. Be sure the pad is lightweight and does not impede water flow.
6. Minimal Use of Firepit
Running the firepit often or for long periods of time over your drain field can cause compaction of the soil, piping damage, and heat-related issues. Because of this, try limiting the use of your Firepit over Drain Field and changing its location from time to time. Its infrequent use gives the soil time to recover and reduces the possibility of drain field damage in the long run.
7. Keep Heavy Traffic off the Area
While the urge to congregate family and friends around the fire is great, be conscious of the number of people in the area. Heavy traffic over the drain field will compact the soil, causing problems with the system. To get the most use out of your firepit, invite your guests to sit a little farther back and avoid extraneous movement directly over the top of the drain field.
8. Regularly Observe the Drain Field
The things you want to look for are soft spots, pooling of water, and strange odors as you continue using the drain field with a firepit on top. These may indeed be showing that your firepit is having a bad effect on the drain field. If you notice any of those, it would be best to cease using the firepit at that location and consult an expert in septic.
9. Use the Right Cut of Wood
In order not to impact your drain field too much, use only clean, dry wood and those that burn efficiently. Keep away from treated wood, scraps from construction sites, or any other material that could create excess ash or chemicals. Too much ash might build up in the soil and alter the drainage capability of that area, becoming less effective at filtering wastewater.
10. Consider Alternative Locations for Fire Pit
Consider having your Firepit over Drain Field elsewhere on your property and not near the drain field if it’s possible at all. Sure, this space might be easy to use for that purpose, but more often than not, there is another place in your yard that will work just fine and not pose any risk to your septic system. Sometimes moving the firepit a few feet one direction or another makes all the difference to maintain the health of your drain field.
Conclusion
With a little planning and mindfulness about usage, you can have a firepit over a drain field. You can consider a portable firepit, be mindful of the amount of heat and/or weight, and always have that area in observation so that the right balance is struck between outdoor enjoyment and protection of the septic system. Follow these tips to get the most out of your firepit while keeping your drain field in good working condition for years to come.
