How Weather Events Effect Your Septic System
Properly maintained, your septic system should be effective at disposing of waste. Just like sewer systems, however, it can be vulnerable to extreme weather events. Unlike city sewers, if you encounter a problem with your septic tank, it’s up to you to get it fixed. Examining your septic system after extreme weather such as cold snaps, flooding, and major storms can stop major problems from developing, so here is how different kinds of weather can impact your septic system.
Rain
Your septic tank relies on a drain field for filtering out waste and releasing clean water into the environment. During heavy rains, it’s possible that the drain field will fill with water and become oversaturated. The flooded drain field will then be unable to treat the water, giving the water from your septic tank nowhere to go. Once the system is flooded, a major concern is the possibility of backups. Without any place to exit, the wastewater can potentially back up into your home’s pipes and toilets. If you notice clogging taking place in your home after a heavy rainstorm, it’s highly possible that a backed-up septic tank due to flooding is the culprit. At this point, you’d be wise hire experts in septic cleaning, so the backup doesn’t get any worse.
Leaking Sewage
Another unpleasant side effect that comes with a flooded drain field is the leakage of sewage out of the tank and directly into the ground. Untreated sewage can pollute the groundwater, causing serious environmental damage and create health hazards for you and your neighbors. Needless to say, if this occurs, you’ll have to have it taken care of immediately.
Cold
Extreme cold has the potential freeze components of your septic system. When this happens, the metabolic rate of the anaerobic bacteria that you depend on for breaking down sewage slows, limiting their ability to do so. To avoid this possibility, cover your septic tank with an insulating cover during the winter months and make sure there’s plenty of vegetation on top of and surrounding the tank as well.
Freezing Pipes
Pipes in your septic tank are as vulnerable to freezing as the pipes in your home and can suffer the same effects. If a pipe is leaking, the water within the pipes can freeze during the winter, further damaging your septic system. Even if your pipes aren’t destroyed by frozen water, clogs can result which can make the wastewater freeze over as well, further compounding the problem. The most important thing you can do is make sure leaky pipes are fixed before the winter when freezing water can do far more damage.
Storm Debris
Violent storms send debris flying in every direction, and this includes within your septic tank. While you can’t do much about the presence of some debris, keeping a well-ordered yard and regularly trimming and pruning trees and bushes will keep the potential for damage resulting from debris in your immediate area to a minimum.
To make sure your septic system is ready for whatever weather threats await, call the Sewer & Septic Specialist at (217) 855-5622. We’re experts in septic repair in Decatur, IL, and we’re here to help. Give us a call today!
