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Christmas and the Holidays are literally right around the corner. With under a week to prepare for family and guests, that will be celebrating with you, for the Holiday’s and New Year’s, it may be the right time to make sure your septic system is up to par. I know it seems like one more thing to worry about, but think about it, with the influx of people comes a surge of water usage. There is cooking, cleaning, showers, toilet flushes and college kids bringing home ALL the clothes in their possession to be washed. All of that water can cause harm to your septic system.
When you use a lot more water than normal, the first thing that happens is that the septic tank is churned up more than usual. This causes the solids and sludge to exit the tank before they have a chance to float to the top or fall to the bottom. If you haven’t pumped your tank in a while you have a greater chance of churning up the solids that should stay in your tank.
The lateral field is the next component that is affected by the holiday rush. The main issue is the sludge and grease that can potentially exit the tank. These will clog up the soil in your lateral field causing it to lose its ability to drain. Over time the accumulation of sludge and grease will keep your lateral field from draining entirely and sewage will start to come up onto the ground. The water usage by itself can create problems with the lateral field. The lateral field needs time to rest so that the water can drain and the bacteria in the lateral field can eat away at the sludge. Even if you pump your tank after the holidays, you can help your lateral field by giving it time to rest while the tank is filling back up.
A few tips to help you through the Holiday Season
BATHROOMS
- Make sure you include a small trash can, in the bathroom, to help encourage guests to toss trash instead of flushing it.
- The only things that should be flushed are human waste and toilet paper. Do not flush paper towels, Q-tips and feminine hygiene products.
- Secure items on a shelf that may be above the toilet, to avoid items from accidentally dropping in to the toilet.
- Have a plunger on hand close to every toilet.
KITCHENS
- Keep garbage disposals in good working condition by being careful what you put in them. Avoid fibrous materials such as corn husks and celery and be sure to run cold water for 15 seconds after use.
- Never put fats, oils and grease down drains to prevent dangerous and expensive clogs and to keep your garbage disposal working properly. If in doubt on what you can put down your garbage disposal, just toss it in the trash.
- Scrape your plates and dishes in the trash to allow minimal use on your garbage disposal.
SEPTIC
- If it has been 3-4 years since your last septic pumping, it’s time you get one scheduled. The last thing you want is for backups or slow draining in your home while visitors are enjoying the full swing of the holidays.
- Give us a call if you are having any problems or would like us to take a look at your system.
- The last thing we want is for you to have any plumbing mishaps or septic catastrophes while your family and friends are enjoying each other’s company.
With so many holidays strung together (don’t forget the NCAA National Championship and the Super Bowl too) your septic system needs proper care and maintenance.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
