Some Fall Septic Maintenance to Put in Place Before the Holidays
You will be having a house full of guests for the holidays, is your septic system up to it? Think back on when you last had the tank put through an inspection. And consider what one would do if trouble were to arise in the course of Thanksgiving dinner.
With fall upon us, any homeowner in Central Indiana ought to be pondering such things. We at Happy & Clean Septic Rescue are the ones to call for residential or commercial work in Muncie, Anderson, Winchester, New Castle, Yorktown and the counties around them. For some peace of mind ahead of the rush, give us a ring at (765) 542-5440.
There is no other time of year that puts as much of a load on your septic system as the holidays do. Eight or ten weekend visitors can have a system that was fine for two over its head in short order with all the extra flushing, dishwashing, laundry and showering. But a bit of forethought will keep you from an unpleasant and stressful situation down the road.
The Case for Doing It in the Fall
If you are going to do maintenance, fall is the time to do it. The ground is soft for access and you can put any problems to rights before the winter and holiday season set in. To leave it to the last minute is to take a chance; once the ground is frozen solid, certain repairs are not only harder but more costly.
By getting ahead of the season you have a better sense of how your system is doing and there is no need to be floundering for assistance on a holiday.
Have Your Tank Inspected and Pumped
It is due for an inspection and a pumping, you should make sure of it. Three to five years is the norm for most systems to be pumped, unless they see heavy use. Then again, if you cannot put your finger on when the tank was last seen to, let that be your cue.
A professional’s eye during a fall check will find small matters before they get out of hand. Expect him to be looking at:
- Sludge and scum levels
- Any cracks or leaks in the walls of the tank
- Baffles and the inlet and outlet pipes
- The drain field for indications of failure
- Soggy ground or standing water in the vicinity of the system
- Gurgling or slow drains within the home
Put Your Home and Guests in Order
Overloading a good system will test it. When the place is full, a couple of simple practices go a long way. Do not have the washing machine, dishwasher and a few showers all running concurrently.
And a word to your guests as to what is and is not to be put down the drain will stave off clogs that ruin the festivities:
- Wipes, paper towels and feminine products do not belong in the toilet
- Cooking oil and grease are for the trash, not the sink
- Same with coffee grounds and food
- Be sparing with the garbage disposal
- Cotton swabs and floss should be trashed
- Put off some of the laundry for another day
Taping a reminder by the bathroom sink may seem like a silly thing to do, yet it could mean the difference and a bill you do not want to pay.
Heed the Warnings
For the most part your septic system will tell you if it is about to fail. Give some thought to any foul odors, a gurgling toilet, slow drains or an odd green lawn above the drain field. Should you see these, do not put it off until your guests are en route, make a service call.
Should you have been told by another outfit that a replacement or major repair is in order, we can provide a free second opinion so you are confident in what you decide.
We Are Available
An emergency with your septic is not going to conform to our business hours, so we are on call 24/7. Mid-holiday or not, we are there. We also have financing via GreenSky to ease the cost in installments, and military and seniors can put in their offer for a 10% discount (must be shown at time of estimate or service, not combinable).
Let us help you avoid a septic issue putting a damper on your gathering. This fall put yourself in the hands of a team that will look after your home as we would our own. Call (765) 542-5440 and have the season worry free.
