Septic drain systems are necessary for onsite waste management, but the system might affect your home's curb appeal. Many homeowners go to great lengths to disguise their septic systems and maintain their home's curb appeal. The right disguises may work, while the wrong ones might cause different complications.

Heed these warnings to ensure your septic disguises do not come with dangerous complications.

1. Avoid Septic Damage

Your attempts to disguise your septic system might damage the system you wish to hide. Below are some of the potential damages.

Compaction

Different hardscaping designs can hide your septic system, but they might also damage it. Whatever beautifications measures you plan, ensure they do not compact the septic drainfield. Discover some of the things you should not have on the septic drainfield:

• Gazebos
• Heavy machinery storage sheds

Compact drainfields do not absorb wastes as easily as non-compacted drainfields. Such a scenario would allow wastes to overflow the drainfield and contaminate the environment.

In addition, heavy objects can also damage mechanical parts of the system. For example, heavy machinery can shift soils and damage underground pipes.

Instead, use light objects to mask the septic system. For example, you can use things like:

• Potted plants
• Artificial rocks
• Birdbaths
• Movable rock gardens

These things are light and easily movable if you want to service the septic system.

Root Intrusion

Many people first think of landscaping to disguise their septic systems. However, landscaping requires careful planning to avoid tree root intrusion. Extensive tree roots can enter septic pipes in search of water and nutrients. Such roots then grow and block or damage the pipes.

Plants with shallow roots will not cause such damage. Native grasses and shrubbery are good examples. However, note that the grass will make septic maintenance, such as tank pumping, harder than usual. Avoid planting over the septic tank cover if you do not want the extra work.

Excavation or Digging

Anything involving excavation or digging the septic drainfield can damage underground pipes. For example, fence posts risk damaging buried septic components, so avoid fencing the septic drainfield.

2. Minimize Landscaping and Hardscaping Damage

Septic services or maintenance can damage your landscaping and hardscaping, depending on their designs. For example, you have to uproot plants every time you want to pump the tank or repair underground septic pipes. You might struggle to do that if you have beautiful and thriving plants.

A good alternative is to use portable hardscaping or landscaping. That way, you can relocate them during maintenance and replace them once the contractor is done.

3. Avoid Food Contamination

As mentioned above, plants with shallow roots make good disguises for septic systems. Many vegetable or edible plants fit this description, but that does not make them fit for the septic drainfield. The plants may disguise the system, but effluent from the system might contaminate them. Do not forget that the septic system has numerous microorganisms that cause diseases.

4. Avoid Infection Risk

Lastly, your disguise designs should not include children's areas or pets' housing. For example, you should not have a dog kennel or swing set in the area. Otherwise, you might expose your pets and children to dangerous germs in the septic effluent.

The germs can enter the body orally, as both children and pets put things in their mouths. The germs can also enter the body via broken skin or open wounds. 

Involve a septic technician in your plans to ensure your attempts to disguise your septic system are safe. JT Sanitation has years of extensive experience in the septic industry. We install, service, and maintain septic systems. Contact us for a quote on all septic services you need.