Before the Winter

Always keep your septic system well maintained; a well-maintained septic system is better able to withstand the stresses of winter weather. Take these steps to protect your septic system.

Know and document all components of your septic system. Take photos of the connections and system components. These photos will be helpful if components are destroyed and you need to replace them or file insurance claims. Make sure your photos and/or documents include:

• Septic tank location
• Septic system records or drawings
• Electrical components

Check for and repair any leaking plumbing fixtures. Small trickles of water can freeze within the pipe and eventually cause the pipe to freeze solid.

Let the grass in your lawn get longer in the late summer/fall over the tank and soil treatment area to provide extra insulation.

Consider wrapping your pipes with heat tape if you have high-efficiency appliances that generate small amounts of water.

Make sure the land around the manhole covers is sloped downwards so that snow melt flows away from the system

Avoid compacting the soil around the system. Compacted soil provides less insulation than uncompacted soil. Never allow vehicle traffic or livestock above the tanks or on the drain field.

Check with a septic system service professional before doing any landscaping to make sure that your system complies with freezing depths for the area.

Consider adding more insulation to the system if your system is new, you have had issues with freezing in the past, or you have a mound system. Options include installing insulated pipes, adding insulation to tanks or manhole covers, or placing a layer of mulch (8-12 inches) over the pipes, tank and drain field. This mulch could be hay, straw, or any other loose material. Contact a septic system service professional for more information.

Check for open, broken or uncapped risers, inspection pipes, or manhole covers that may allow cold air in and cause freezing. Be careful around any openings to the system and contact a septic system service professional for any needed repairs.

Check for any water pooling near the drain field. Effluent released from a failing system may freeze and prevent further effluent from entering the soil. Contact a septic system service professional for any needed repairs.

During the Winter

If you will be gone for more than a week leave the heat on in your home and consider having someone come by and run warm water regularly to prevent pipes from freezing.

Limit all traffic above and near the system during freezing temperatures. Excessive foot traffic, pets, or other impacts can cause snow to compact and the system to freeze.

Avoid removing or compacting snow above the system. Compacted snow provides less insulation than uncompacted snow and cold PVC pipes and plastic risers may crack or break.

If you feel the system starting to freeze use warm water and spread out your laundry and dishwasher schedule to at least one warm load per day. Do not leave water running, as this will hydraulically overload the system.

If you will be gone for several months, follow the steps listed above and check with a septic system service professional about having your septic tank pumped to prevent the effluent from freezing. In certain areas pumping the tank may cause it to pop out of the ground.

If your septic system freezes, call a septic system service professional. Do not add antifreeze, salt, or a septic system additive to the system. Do not run hot water continuously, start a fire over the system, or attempt to pump the sewage. Unless the cause of the freezing is corrected the system will probably refreeze next winter.

If you hear water constantly running into a pump tank or the pump turning on and off your system may be frozen. Shut off your pump and call a septic system service professional.

If your septic system cannot be repaired, contact a septic system service professional about using the septic tank as a holding tank until the system thaws naturally. If this complies with local code the tanks will need to be emptied on a regular basis. This can be costly. Reduce water use by limiting the number of toilet flushes, taking short showers, using the dishwasher at full capacity, and doing laundry at a laundromat.

Contact Morse Engineering and Construction for more information.

neha.org

There are several types of septic system professionals which provide different services at different stages of a septic system’s lifetime. Once you have determined which type of professional you need, contact at least three of them, and ask them about their services.

Types of Septic Professionals

Maintenance Service Providers

Septic System Inspectors and Maintenance Service Providers can inspect the whole system, including tanks, pumps, additional treatment devices (such as a sandfilter), and the drainfield. These professionals may be known as Operation and Maintenance (or O&M) Specialist, Inspectors, or Monitoring Specialists. These professionals should be hired for routine inspections and called first when there are issues with your system. Your local health department may or may not require these professional to be approved and certified.

Questions to ask Maintenance Service Providers:

• What are the estimated costs? Does this include health department fees?
• What will the inspection include and not include? (Examples: checking tanks and drainfield, cleaning filters, checking for leaks)
• Do you charge extra to dig up the lids to the system? What if I do the digging?
• Do you know how to service my type of system? (Examples: pumps, pressure distribution, sand filter, specific proprietary components)

Septic Pumpers

Sewage Pumpers can pump tanks and transport the sewage material to an approved treatment facility. Many can also inspect the tanks for cracks and leaks, as well as check the drainfield area and evaluate landscaping and proper drainage. Washington State regulation requires that Septic Pumpers are approved by the local health department.

Note: Having your tank(s) pumped is not a substitute for an inspection. In general, a Maintenance Service Provider (or owner, if allowed in your area) should inspect the system and determine if pumping is needed. If it has been five or more years since your last pumping, or if you are selling your home, you may need to have your tanks pumped regardless.

Questions to ask Sewage Pumpers:

• What are the estimated costs? Does this include health department fees?
• Do you pump both sides/chambers of the tank?
• Do you charge extra to dig up the lids to the system? What if I do the digging?
• Do you inspect the tank?

Septic System Designers and Engineers

Licensed Septic System Designers and Professional Engineers can design systems for new installations, alterations, and repairs. Many also evaluate system problems, and perform inspections and maintenance. Designers and Professional Engineers are licensed through the Washington State Department of Licensing.

Questions to ask Designers and Engineers:

• What are the estimated costs for your project?
• What's included and not included? (Examples: site evaluation, design package, pressure test, as-built package, health department fees)
• Do you charge extra for inspections, extra visits, or the homeowner’s manual?

Septic System Installers

can install new systems, alter or expand existing systems, and repair failed systems. Some may also inspect and perform maintenance on systems. Washington State regulation requires that Installers are approved by the local health department.

Questions to ask Installers:

• What are the estimated costs?
• What's included and not included? (Examples: full installation, backfill, electrical work, health department fees)
• Do you contact the local health department or do I need to?
• Do you warranty your work? For how long? Ask them to explain their warranty.
• Do you charge extra for any services?

Contact Morse Engineering and Construction for more information.

Source: doh.wa.gov

A septic system failure causes untreated sewage to be released and transported to where it shouldn’t be. This may cause sewage to come to the surface of the ground around the tank or the drainfield or to back up in pipes in the building.

What are some common reasons a septic system doesn't work properly?

Pipe from the house to the tank is clogged. When this happens, drains drain very slowly (perhaps slower on lower levels of the building) or stop draining completely. This is often an easy problem to fix. Usually, a service provider can "snake the line" and get it unclogged. You can prevent a clogged line by flushing only human waste and toilet paper down the drain and having your system inspected annually. Sometimes this pipe gets crushed or broken by vehicle or animal traffic. Plant roots sometimes block the pipe (particularly on older systems). Fixing a crushed or root damaged pipe will require replacing (at least) a portion of the pipe.

Inlet baffle to the tank is blocked. This failure is very similar to when the inlet pipe from the house to the tank is clogged. If you have access to your inlet baffle opening, you can check to see if there is a clog. If you see toilet paper and other debris, you can try unclogging it using a pole. Be mindful not to damage any of the septic systems components. A service professional can also be contacted for this relatively easy and low-cost fix. Prevent your inlet baffle from getting clogged by only flushing human waste and toilet paper and having your system inspected annually.

Outlet baffle or effluent filter is clogged. This may result in sewage backing up into the home, or possibly surfacing near the septic tank. This issue may be a sign that the tank is receiving too much water, possibly in a short amount of time. If there is an effluent filter this must be cleaned off or replaced. If there is not an effluent filter, fixing this issue will probably require getting the tank pumped to identify and remove the clog. Prevent this type of issue by cleaning your effluent filter (if you have one) and having your system inspected annually.

Drainfield has failed. When the drainfield fails, or is saturated with water, sewage may backup into the home. Wet, soggy areas may develop above or near the drainfield and you may see spongy bright green grass over the area. There may also be odors near the tank or drainfield. This could be the end of life for this component of your septic system. It may be that the system was operated inappropriately and too much solid material made it to the drainfield causing it to fail prematurely. Or, maybe the system worked for many years and simply has no more capacity to accept waste. However, if too much water has saturated the drainfield (through large amounts of water going down the drain or through flood water on the drainfield), it's possible that the drainfield can be dried out and rehabilitated. Contact a service professional to assess the situation. If the drainfield has failed, a connection to the public sewer system should be considered, if it’s a possibility. Otherwise, a replacement drainfield will need to be installed.

There are other reasons a septic system can fail or malfunction. If your system isn't working properly, contact Morse Engineering and Construction for more information.

Source: doh.wa.gov