Since much of your septic system is underground, it’s tempting to overlook it. It’s understandable to believe that a system that’s underground won’t be affected by the cold weather of winter, but that’s not true. Many septic systems aren’t buried beneath the frost line in their area. The freeze line is where the groundwater freezes in the winter, and depending on where you live this can be as much as eight feet deep. This will affect your septic system. Here are ways to maintain it in the winter.
1. Have the Septic System Checked by a Professional
The first thing to do when preparing your septic systems for winter is to make sure it’s checked every few years by a professional septic tank service. This can be a professional who specializes in septic system maintenance or a regular plumber. They may need to pump the septic tank or add bacteria that thrive in cold weather. Bacteria help break down the solid wastes that enter the septic system, and there are species of bacteria that can’t tolerate cold weather.
2. Don’t Let Problems Linger
Problems such as slow drains throughout the house, bad smells, weird sounds, bubbling, unusually lush verdure, or wet spots in the part of your lawn above your septic system should be dealt with right away by a professional. One caveat is to never open up your septic tank yourself to check it. The very gases from the tank can be deadly.
3. Don’t Use Harsh Chemicals to Clear Drains
When you have a clog in your drain it’s tempting to use drain cleaners made of harsh chemicals to get rid of them. However, these chemicals should only be used as a very last resort, and maybe not even then. Harsh chemicals eat away at pipes and eventually cause them to weaken, develop leaks, and burst. They also kill the beneficial bacteria in the septic tank.
4. Wrap Drain Pipes in Insulation
One way to keep drain pipes from bursting in frigid weather is to wrap them up in insulation. Plumbing pipe insulation is easy to find, inexpensive, and easy to put on your pipes yourself if you don’t mind visiting your basement, crawlspace, or other uninsulated area. Remember that a burst drain pipe might not only be a mess but a health hazard.
5. Flush Your Drains
Even if they’re not clogged, it’s a good idea to simply flush your drains regularly, especially during winter. It can be as simple as a weekly dose of a cup of baking soda flushed down the drain with hot water from the spigot.
6. Take Care of the Leach Field
The leach field, or drainage field, is where the liquids from the septic tank are sent to be purified, and sink into the gravel bed to rejoin the groundwater. Be careful not to park heavy vehicles over the drainage field or the area of the septic tank. You should encourage grass, but not trees or shrubs, to grow over the drainage field and septic tank to keep them insulated. If there’s no grass there, spread some mulch.