Winter time can cause unparalleled stress to your septic system. Between the low temperatures, the holiday guests and the snow, your septic system can get seriously damaged. But there are various ways in which you can avoid certain problems to prevent your home from becoming a disaster zone due to a septic system failure.
If you want to avoid dealing with frozen tank components, make sure to insulate your septic system by covering it with an insulating cover or blanket that can keep the warmth in during the colder months. Another way to to keep your septic system warm during the winter months is to use vegetation as a shield from the cold. Remember to keep things moving and run water everyday to reduce the risks of getting a frozen pipe. These measures are key to keep the system running smoothly; a tank with frozen components can and will slow down the metabolic rate of anaerobic bacteria in your septic tank, which will make the waste break down process almost impossible.
When your pipes have leaks or don’t function correctly, there are many ways in which winter can have a negative impact on them. In the colder months, any leaks will cause water to freeze. Additionally, if there are any clogs in the system wastewater can accumulate in the pipes and freeze damaging your system. To make matters worse, this could contaminate your drinking water. So make sure to have an expert over to inspect the entire system, get rid of any clogs and replace all leaky pipes to avoid any issues.
Another common problem is the snow that compacts over your tank or drain field, which may affect the soil above your septic tank, making insulation less effective. Further, if the soil in your drain field compacts, it is very unlikely that the wastewater will be filtered appropriately. If you want to prevent this from happening, make sure to aerate the soil and don’t drive over these sections of your lawn.
If you had people over the holidays, especially people who are not used to live in a property with a septic tank, you must be extra careful that they use your system correctly. Elaborated holiday meals, extra laundry, increase in shower and toilet usage, not to mention flushing down the drain ‘forbidden’ items can contribute to damages to your septic system. Prepare for the visitors in advance if you want to avoid these issues. Put together a schedule so the meal preparation can be distributed within the hours/days prior to the celebration in a way that won’t cause too much stress to your septic system. Provide a simple set of rules for your guests on the do’s and don’ts when it comes to toilet usage, showering, laundry sessions and cooking/eating to reduce the risk of damages to a minimum.
Last but not least, make sure to have an expert over to inspect your system, and fix any small issues that could be aggravated during the winter.
At Jones Septic, we are an expert team when it comes to septic emergencies, Septic Pumping Pawling NY, Septic Pumping Hyde Park NY, Septic Pumping Mabbettsville NY, Septic Pumping Millerton NY or Septic Pumping Poughquag NY. So should you require any assistance, get in touch with us now. Call Jones Septic at 845 452 1123 or 800 696 6878. We’re ready to solve any of your septic emergencies.
