Your septic tank is one facet of your home that requires regular maintenance. Any clogs or issues can result in exceptionally messy problems, making a routine septic tank inspection essential. If you see any problems, it’s best to nip it in the bud.
Doing this in the winter can be pretty challenging, which means you’ll have to make sure it’s properly cleaned and inspected right before winter. You’ll also guarantee that your tank is in the best condition possible, helping you save money from having to do emergency repairs in the winter.
6 Tips to Help You Prepare Your Septic System for Winter
Here are six tips to prepare your septic system for winter:
1. Resolve Issues Immediately
If you see any signs of issues with your septic tank, don’t leave it to fester—even if it occurs in the dead of night, call a 24-hour emergency septic service immediately. Some warning signs to watch out for are a faint rotten egg smell during warm days, gurgling drains, and slowly flushing toilets. Although these may seem minor, they can worsen if left untreated.
2. Pump Your Tank
If you haven’t pumped your tank in a while, autumn is the best time to do it. If you do it during the winter, you’ll have a difficult time locating your tank under all the layers of snow. You’ll also have a tricky time digging into the frozen ground. Given all these challenges, it’s best to pump your tank right before temperatures drastically dip.
3. Save Water
The fall season sees plenty of holidays and celebrations. You’ll likely have guests over for Halloween, Thanksgiving, or any activity to celebrate autumn. These guests may stress your septic system, mostly if they stay in your house for a night or two. To keep your septic system in good working order, take quick showers, or do your laundry once a week. These acts will help you conserve water, which will help you avoid overworking your septic system.
4. Seal All Leaks
If your plumbing is leaking, you’ll want to fix them as soon as possible. Otherwise, you’ll risk your pipes freezing when the water turns into ice, which will expand and cause the pipes to burst. Be sure to inspect your tank lid as well for any cracks or leaks.
5. Use Mulch
Insulating your septic system from the cold is vital to ensure it doesn’t freeze over, and you can do this by spreading mulch on the ground. In the weeks leading up to winter, put eight to twelve inches of mulch over the entire septic system area. If you do this when the ground or system is already frozen, you’ll insulate the cold, which will take longer to thaw.
6. Grow Your Grass
Another way to prepare your septic system for winter is to grow the grass that surrounds it. Having extra tall grass that is about an additional six inches from its usual length will insulate the drain field, septic tank, and connecting pipes during winter. This extra padding will lower the chances of your system freezing over once winter arrives.
Conclusion
Knowing how to prepare your septic system for winter is vital to your system's health and longevity. With minimal to no issues to take care of, you won’t be outside in the bitter cold, digging into the ground to access your pipes. With these tips, you’ll have a surefire way to winter-proof your system.
If you’re looking for a septic company in Contra Cosa County and surrounding areas, you’ll get the best service possible with A1. We are a provider of septic and non-hazardous pumping services that conduct septic tank inspections, 24-hour emergency services, and many others. Call us today to resolve your septic tank emergency immediately!