How Does Bad Weather Affect Your Septic System?

Let’s look at some of the ways bad weather can harm your septic system.

Cold Weather

Freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on the components of your septic system. During winter, the plummeting temperatures slow down the bacteria’s ability to break down solids, thereby increasing the risk of a full septic tank. The colder it gets inside the septic tank, the longer it takes for anaerobic bacteria to digest the waste. Low temperatures can also cause the pipe connecting your home and the septic tank to freeze. In addition, freezing temperatures can cause the soil in the drainfield to freeze, thereby inhibiting the proper percolation of effluent.

Here are some tips to protect your septic system from the cold weather:

• Check for leaks.
• Have your septic tank pumped before winter. Septic tank pumping ensures the tank enters the cold season as clean and healthy as possible.
• Insulate the pipe leading to the septic tank.
• Inspect the lid covering your septic tank and ensure it’s tightly secured. A tightly sealed lid will retain the heat inside the tank and prevent cold air from getting inside.
• Add 2-3 inches of mulch or straw over the drainfield to protect against freezing.
• Have a professional septic technician inspect your septic system before winter to ensure all the components are in tip-top condition.

Heavy Rainfall

Excessive rainfall can pose a serious threat to your septic tank and drainfield. Apart from causing your septic tank to fill up quickly, heavy rainfall can oversaturate the drainfield, resulting in issues like wastewater backup, slow drains, foul odors, and more. Luckily, there are preventative measures you can take to protect your septic system from the effects of heavy rainfall:

• Limit water use during periods of prolonged rain.
• Reroute downspouts away from your drainfield.
• Ensure there’s proper grading around your septic system so that water flows away from the system.
• Have a professional septic company inspect your septic system ahead of the rainy months.
• Keep vehicles away from your drainfield.

Excessively hot weather

Prolonged heat can lead to dry and compacted soil in the drainfield. When the soil becomes less permeable, it may be more challenging for the effluent to percolate through the soil in the drainfield. This can lead to poor absorption and potential backups or system malfunctions. To minimize the impact of excessively hot weather on your drainfield, maintain adequate vegetative cover over the drainfield to provide insulation.

Need Reliable Septic System Service? Call Septic Blue Of Charlotte Today

When you’re in need of professional septic system services, reach out to Septic Blue of Charlotte. The following are some of the septic services we offer in the areas we serve:

• Septic tank installation
• Septic tank repair
• Septic tank pumping
• Septic cleaning
• Septic system inspection and maintenance
• Emergency septic services

If you’ve been searching for a dependable septic company to help you with your septic system needs, you can trust the experts at Septic Blue of Charlotte to get the job done right.