It might be summer now, but winter will be here before you know it. If you've got a septic tank in your yard, now's the time to start preparing for its cold-weather care. You might not realize this, but winter can wreak havoc on your septic system. You don't want to be stuck with septic problems in the dead of winter. Luckily, with some careful preparations, you shouldn't have to. Here are three steps you can take to avoid septic troubles this winter.
Start with a Clean Tank
If it's been a while since you had your septic tank cleaned, now would be a good time to take care of that. Starting with a clean septic tank can help you avoid problems like backups and foul odors this winter. While you're having your septic pumped, be sure to ask them to clean it out with a high-pressure hose. This will remove all the build-up at the bottom of the tank that prevent proper functioning.
Have Your Drains Inspected
During the summer months, when the weather is warm, greasy sludge inside the drains might not cause any real problems. However, once the cold weather arrives, that greasy sludge can freeze into a solid block, posing a serious threat to your septic tank and your drains. First, that solid mass of sludge can continue to expand, eventually rupturing your drains. Second, the mass can block access to your septic tank, causing sewage backups inside your home. Finally, the frozen mass can block the drain pipe between the septic tank and your seepage field, leading to the collapse of your septic system. To prevent these problems, have your drains inspected, and cleaned, before winter arrives.
Keep Your Septic Field Insulated
If you live in an area that experiences extreme winter temperatures, you'll want to insulate your septic field. The frozen soil above your septic field can pose a variety of problems including ruptured pipes and collapsed seepage fields. Not only that, but once the soil begins to thaw in the spring, the excess water can flood your septic tank. To prevent those problems, you should keep your septic field insulated during the winter. One way to protect your septic field is to place a tarp over the area and then cover it with a layer of mulch. Once spring arrives, you can turn the mulch over into the soil for added nutrients.
Don't take chances with your septic system. Use the suggestions provided here to avoid problems this winter. Contact a contractor, like Parrish Portable & Septic, for more help.
Share5 June 2017
Hi there, I am Wes Nelson. When I lived in my first home, I discovered the plumbing connected directly to a septic system on the land. The septic system consisted of a tank, lines and leach field that processed the waste. I had to quickly learn how the septic system worked to keep it in good shape. I had to pay close attention to the substances I sent down the drains or flushed down the toilet. I did not want to disrupt the colonies of bacteria hard at work processing the waste products. On this site, I would like to help others keep their septic system in good working order by sharing the information I discovered. Please visit again soon.
