Can you Put a Trampoline on a Leach Field? (Yay or Nay)

Just a few months back, I moved to a new place in the suburbs for a job. It was just for a couple of weeks for work. But I, being myself, decided to take my trampoline with me to my new place. Some of you might call me crazy for it, but hey, I love jumping around in the afternoon.

Unfortunately, though, I could not set it up. Apparently, my backyard was a leach field, and installing a trampoline on it was extremely risky. So even though I took the trouble of bringing my trampoline, I could not use it until I got home to my own backyard.

Some of you might be confused. Just what exactly is a leach field? And why can’t you put a trampoline over it? I’ll be honest; I had no idea about it at first, too. But after reading up on it, I realized what a risky idea it would be to set up my trampoline over it.

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And to make sure you do not take that risk, I will address the different questions surrounding this subject and help you get a better understanding of it.

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What is a Leach (Septic) Field?

Leach fields, also known as septic drain fields or leach drains, are a type of underground wastewater disposal system that you find in homes that are far from the municipal centralized sewage system. That is why you typically do not find one around your home if you live in the city.

The main purpose of the leach field is to remove impurities and harmful, toxic substances from the wastewater that moves through it. Too complicated for you? Simply put, a leach field is a field where the wastewater from your septic tank drains into.

The overall design of a septic system is quite simple. It consists of a septic tank, a pipe system, and a septic drain field. The septic drain field is what is commonly referred to as a leach field.

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Typically, the leach field comprises a couple of trenches that contain perforated pipes and materials such as gravel or similar porous substances to surround it. The gravel is covered with a soft layer of soil to ensure animals cannot reach the wastewater under the trenches.

The gravel around the leach field soaks the wastewater that moves through the pipes and breaks the harmful chemicals down to its microorganisms. Needless to say, coming into contact with these leftover bacteria can be quite harmful to humans and animals alike.

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Can I put a trampoline over a leach field?

Now that you understand what a leach field is, it should be a bit more understandable why putting a trampoline over it is a bad idea. The most obvious reason is that it is not exactly hygienic. Toxic chemicals from the wastewater can easily seep up into the soil, and while it may be unlikely, there is no reason to risk it.

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Besides, if you put a trampoline over a leach field, the soil under the trampoline can compact. And trampolines are not exactly lightweight when someone is jumping on them. The weight of the trampoline, combined with the pressure that the person puts on it when jumping, can easily crack the pipes under the ground.

And if that happens, all the wastewater from the leach field can seep into the ground or even wash back into the septic system. It can lead to a nightmarish situation that I would rather not have happen to me. Furthermore, it will also ruin your septic system for good until you get it replaced.

In other words, you do not want to put a trampoline over a leach field. While you might be able to get away with jumping on your trampoline for a couple of days, eventually, it will compact the soil damaging your septic system. It is simply not worth the hassle.

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What Are the Safest Places to Put a Trampoline?

The best way to set up your trampoline is in your backyard, preferably on grass. You can also place an artificial grass mat under the trampoline if you want the grass to remain fresh and not die out from lack of sunlight. Ideally, the ground should be flat, but there are ways to work around that if there is a slight slope.

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Some people also use wood mulches or rubber mulches under their trampoline for some extra safety. I have already talked about all the things you can put under your trampoline in a separate article. You can read more about it here.

As long as there are no potential hazards such as trees or poles near the trampoline, you should have nothing to worry about. I have also seen some people set up their trampolines over concrete, but personally, I am not a fan. Still, if you want to go that route, you can as long as you know what you are doing.

For me, a grass or dirt backyard is the best and safest place to set up your trampoline as the risks are massively minimized.

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Final Words

When I found that my backyard was not an option to put my trampoline in because of the septic field, I thought to place it in my front yard. But setting up your trampoline in the front garden has its own share of issues that I would rather not get into in this article.

Your major takeaway here should be that installing your trampoline over a leach field is a bad idea. It can open up a whole new can of worms. Your energy is better spent finding a better, more accessible location for your trampoline.

Hopefully, I could help you understand the major issues with this idea. I also shared a couple of safe places where you can set up your trampoline as a bonus. Good luck!