No one wants to have to deal with a septic tank problem, ever—especially during the freezing winter months. Depending on the issue, the area in and around your home could get smelly, damp or become backed up, causing nothing but stress and headaches. Even worse is the fact that wintertime septic tank issues can be more disastrous than at any other time of the year, due to tank freezing and system backups.
What can you do to ensure that your septic tank makes it through the colder months without incident? Start by maintaining it throughout the year, and be prepared for the cold, rain and snow. Here’s why it’s important to get professional septic pumping in Prior Lake, MN taken care of before winter hits.
Expansion
You must do everything you can to avoid your septic tank freezing this winter, and the first step to doing this is to perform regular tank maintenance as needed. Getting your septic tank pumped before winter hits can create extra room in the tank, allowing for expansion. What do we mean by expansion? Well, water expands when it freezes, which means that if your septic tank freezes, the liquid inside will need enough room to expand. This extra space inside can save your tank during a freeze; otherwise, the expanding caused by freezing liquid could crack the tank open.
Snow buildup
Septic tank cleaning and pumping prevents water from backing up in the event that the drain field fills with snow. But the problem is not solely caused by the weight of the snow. It’s a problem because the moisture from ice and snow seeps into the dirt above the area, resulting in the drain field not being able to filter waste coming in through the drainpipes. The extra-moist soil can lead to wastewater backup, so get your tank pumped in time for winter!
Heavy use during the holidays
Another reason to get your septic tank pumped is for peace of mind during the holidays. Having houseguests will mean your septic system will be working harder than normal—there will be more water use, more waste and more debris going into the tank. Plan ahead this holiday season to avoid sewage water backup. Schedule a septic pumping now!
Manage bulky laundry loads
Winter clothing, heavy blankets and winter bedding are typically made of thicker, heavier materials, but they still need to be washed. These laundry loads could call for longer washing machine running times, or more than one wash cycle. Make sure to get your septic tank cleaned and pumped before winter hits to accommodate increased laundry loads.
With regular care and maintenance, your septic tank and system will last longer and function properly. The magic number for septic pumping in Prior Lake, MN is typically every 3 to 5 years, which will remove debris buildup, avoid damaging clogs and help keep your septic tank in good shape. If you need septic services or have a problem with your system, don’t hesitate to contact the plumbing professionals at Mike’s Septic & McKinley Sewer Services!