Fall and winter usher in more than cold weather and the holidays - these seasons bring unique considerations which can negatively affect your septic system. By getting your septic system ready for fall and winter, you’ll be better able to avoid messy, expensive, and hazardous problems. Learn more about the affects of cold weather on a septic system and preparation tips for fall and winter.
How Cold Weather Affects Septic Systems
Cold weather affects septic systems in a couple of ways. First, low temperatures make it difficult for the bacteria in your septic tank to survive, which is crucial for the system to function. Microscopic bacteria physically digest the waste, leaving only water and carbon dioxide. If there aren’t enough bacteria, sludge settles to the bottom of the tank and builds up.
Second, there’s often more house guests and fatty foods during fall and winter that can strain or
overload your septic system. When a septic system overloads, solids are unable to adequately settle and bacterial activity is limited, thereby hindering the break down of solids.
4 Septic System Tips for Fall and Winter
Supplementing more bacteria into your system can help combat the issues discussed above, however, there are other things you can do to help ensure your septic system operates smoothly during fall and winter.
1. Pump the septic tank before winter.
Fall is a better time to pump your tank than winter because it can be hard to located the tank in snow. Also, digging into frozen ground is another challenge so you may not have easy access to your tank in the winter. If you need
septic tank pumping, make sure to schedule your appointment before the weather gets too cold.
2. Inspect your septic tank lid.
Make sure your septic tank lid doesn’t have any cracks or leaks. If water and cold seeps into the septic system through the ground, it can lead to a frozen or overworked system. Replace your tank lid to help prevent your system from freezing.
3. Insulate your septic system.
Septic systems need extra insulation during winter months so they don’t freeze over. Allow the grass covering your septic tank to grow out more than usual during fall for an added layer of protection. Another way to increase insulation is to lay mulch over the septic system area.
4. Be mindful of additional strain around the holidays.
The holidays often bring more guests into your home which can overload a septic system, cause drains to back up, garbage disposals to clog, and more. Prevent an emergency from interrupting your festivities by practicing our
holiday tips for septic systems.
Prepare Your Septic System
Get your septic system ready for fall and winter by preparing before freezing temperatures hit. While most of our tips you can do yourself, septic tank pumping is best left to the professionals.
Honey-Wagon has been helping homeowners in the Kansas City area prepare their septic systems for cold weather since 1986. We’re a family-owned septic maintenance company that services Miami, Wyandotte, and Johnson counties in Kansas, and Jackson and Cass in Missouri.
Contact us today at (913) 681-3563 or (816) 525-5100 to request an estimate!