Septic Tank System Maintenance for the Winter

If you have a septic system for your home, it’s extremely important to understand the maintenance of it during every season of the year. Different seasons and weather elements can affect your septic system in different ways.

If there is good snow cover in the winter, it can do good for your septic tank system. However, if little snow occurs, the frost can cause serious problems for your septic tank system. With winter approaching, here are a few things you should look out for.

Septic Pipe in Your Home

First and foremost, keep an eye on the point where the septic pipe leaves the home basement wall to the septic tank. If this sewer pipe isn’t at least four feet from ground level and has no extra insulation, dry frosty winters will undoubtedly cause this pipe to freeze. Wind from the north and west sides of the house can move snow out of the way, which makes this pipe even more susceptible to freezing. If the pipe freezes, a dam of ice can prevent water flow, backing up the system and causing some real issues.

Above the Tank

The same issue can occur just above the tank itself if there’s not a steep enough slope for a run-off of freezing water to happen. Insulating the tank is the best way to prevent this if you get cold temperatures in the winter without much snowfall.

Soil Treatment System

The soil treatment system (also called a drain field) may not function properly if the ground it’s installed in is wet or soggy. If this happens, insulation won’t be of much help and an expert should be called in to replace the drain field.

The bottom line is that undisturbed snow is a great way to insulate your system. Counterintuitively, compacting or removing that snow can lead to a lot of issues with freezing in different parts of your septic system, so avoid snow removal or driving vehicles over the tank during the winter.

If you’re concerned about your septic system for the winter, or if you have any other issues regarding your septic tank, contact Freedom Septic Service at 410-795-2947 today or visit us online for more information!