It's that time of year again. Time to start planning the family get-togethers. If you're going to be having out-of-town guests staying at your home during the holidays, it's time to start planning your septic safety too. The last thing you want is to deal with septic issues while you're trying to entertain your out-of-town house guests. Unfortunately, excess use during the holidays can put undue pressure on your septic system and lead to serious complications. Here are three steps you can take to avoid embarrassing septic troubles during the holidays.
Start with a Clean Tank
It may seem oversimplified, but the best way to avoid septic problems during the holidays is to start with a clean tank. If your tank is empty, there will be less of a chance that it will back up or overflow. You can prevent clogs and foul odors by having your drains cleaned when you have your septic tank emptied. Having your drains cleaned will remove the residual waste that can lead to plumbing problems later on. Contact a septic plumbing company, such as Pete's Outflow Technicians, to talk about cleaning your tank.
Stagger the Shower Schedule
You might not realize this, but excess water usage can undermine your septic system, whether it's been cleaned recently, or not. That's because all the water flows through to the first tank and then on through to the seepage field. If too much water flows through at once, it can back up in the pipes and come back up in your bathtubs. You can avoid that problem by making some changes to the shower schedule. Instead of having everyone shower in the evenings or the mornings, stagger the schedule so that the water has a chance to flow easily through to the septic system.
Give Yourself a Break from Dirty Dishes
Dishes are never fun to wash, but that chore can become even worse during the holidays, especially when your home is filled with out-of-town guests. Unfortunately, all those dirty dishes, and the added food waste, can really wreak havoc on your septic tank. One way to give your septic tank a break during the holidays is to give yourself a break from dirty dishes. Instead of using dishes and silverware for every meal, switch to disposable plates and flatware while you have guests. That way you'll be limiting the amount of water that heads to the septic tank. If you'd prefer to avoid using disposable plates and flatware, use your dishwasher, and be sure to run only full loads.
Share10 November 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.
