Harsh winter weather can provide septic tanks with problems. From frozen ground, to frozen pipes, unique issues may arise which need to be addressed. Here are some tips to prepare for winter and hopefully avoid problems with your septic tank.

1. Difficulty Reaching Septic Tank to Pump

When the ground freezes or snow accumulates, it creates an extra barrier to reach your tank. Tank pumping and maintenance suddenly become a nuisance when you need to dig through hard or snowy ground. Ideally, you should plan ahead by scheduling tank maintenance during a warmer month.

Another solution is to install a septic tank riser. A riser simplifies this issue by providing an above ground access point to your system and tank. Risers are built to withstand the harsh winter months, providing a sturdy solution. Learn more about risers here.

2. Snow and Soil Pressure on Tank

If snow and soil are compacted and pushed down around your septic system it can cause a number of problems.

Compacted soil and snow:

Does not insulate tank as well, potentially causing a frozen system

May prevent wastewater from filtering and draining properly

Creates pressure over tank and piping which can lead to damage and ultimately freeze easier

Prevention Tips:

Do not drive vehicles or heavy equipment over your tank or drain field. Actually, driving over your tank should be avoided at any time of year, but can cause the most problems in winter months.

Remove snow build up over the system.

Aerate soil around the septic system before winter.

3. Frozen Septic System Pipes or Components

When snow or frost gets around your septic tanks and surrounding parts, then freezes, problems can occur. Particularly, it slows down or prevents the healthy bacteria in your tank from breaking down waste. When wastewater is not broken down properly, it may cause system overload. Also, if the wastewater accumulates in a frozen line, then ruptures, this introduces a major health hazard.

Steps to Prepare:

Insulate your septic tank and system using: a cover, blanket, straw, leaves and/or dirt. Consider covering your leach field too.

Plant vegetation nearby to help shield your tank from the cold.

Run water and use a tank daily.

Keep pipes free from leaks and clogs, so the line stays warm and drainage works properly.

For more information on septic tank inspection, contact Morse Engineering and Construction.

Source: millerofholmes.com

One other important matter concerning the Title V and septic systems is the proper representation of bedrooms in a home.

Title 5 Septic System MisrepresentationAccording to errors and omission insurance for Massachusetts Realtors, one of the areas that have drawn the most recent litigation is the misrepresentation of bedrooms when a septic system services the home.

Septic systems are rated according to their bedroom capacity. When someone says the septic system is “rated” for four bedrooms, it means that the system will handle the waste generated by four bedrooms.

It has nothing to do with the number of bathrooms in a home! This makes perfect sense because a septic system gets taxed by the number of occupants, not the number of bathrooms.

Where sellers and Realtors put themselves into a potential legal bind is when rooms in a home are counted and marketed as bedrooms when they are not.

For example, you could have a home with three bedrooms on the 2nd floor and another room on the 1st floor that is marketed as a “bedroom.” It may by all definitions meet the requirements of a bedroom, such as having a closet and a window large enough for a person to fit through.

However, the problem is if the home has a septic system that is rated for only three bedrooms, it is not a four-bedroom home and should not be marketed as such.

The misrepresentation occurs when the seller or Realtor represents this room as a bedroom through various marketing channels such as the multiple listing service (MLS) or other written material.

The buyer relies on the information provided, only to later find out through town hall, the title v or other means that the home is, in fact, not a four-bedroom home. There are certainly differences in market value between three and four-bedroom homes regardless of the house’s overall size.

Another example would be a home that has an addition, and the room that was added is called a bedroom, but there has been no corresponding “upgrade” to the septic system.

Whenever there is any doubt about the bedroom count, a Realtor should verify the records to determine the correct information. This information can usually be found at the local board of health records or on the septic design. If there has been a Title V inspection already done on the property, it will be in the report as well.

Source: maxrealestateexposure.com

When failing a title 5, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts provides a tax credit of up to $6,000 over four years to defray the cost of septic repairs to a primary residence.

Forms are available from the Department of Revenue (DOR) to allow homeowners to claim up to $6,000 in tax credits for septic upgrades. The credit cannot exceed $1,500 in any year and may be spread out over four years. The tax credit will only be issued for work done on a primary residence and not an investment property or 2nd home. Tax Form Schedule SC is the correct form for the tax credits. You can get the form at the MassDOR Web site.

You may be wondering how this all applies to cesspools. Cesspools are much harder to pass in Massachusetts. Does every single cesspool automatically fail? NO.

Only those cesspools that exhibit signs of hydraulic failure are located very close to private or public water supplies or otherwise do not protect or pose a threat to the public health, safety, or the environment will need to be changed to septic systems. Also, cesspools must be upgraded before an increase in the design flow. As an example, if there is a bedroom addition put on the home.

If you decide not to sell your home, a Massachusetts Title 5 is good for two years from the date it is completed. It can also be extended for a 3rd year if it is pumped in both years.

Source: maxrealestateexposure.com

When it rains, rainwater runoff has to go somewhere when it falls. Because of gravity, it will usually go to the lowest point it can, pouring into any available culvert or break in the tank. As the water collects, it takes up space, causing the gas to move upward to accommodate the increasing volume of water. That’s because the fumes have a lower density, so they’ll begin to come out of sewers and cause a bad smell in the process.

If you’re on a septic tank and notice a foul odor inside your home when it rains, the cause may be any — or a combination — of the following reasons:

Raining often causes atmospheric pressure changes, which can lead to the air becoming heavy. As such, the methane gases typically found in the septic tank don’t flow through the vent as they normally would. Instead, they stay low to the ground, causing a foul smell similar to rotten eggs.

Cold temperatures can cause downdrafts from plumbing vent stacks. In this case, you will notice the odor varies during the day, especially if the weather is windy. If the odor tends to subside as temperatures go up, downdrafts are the most likely cause of that terrible sewer smell in your house.

If the septic tank is full, it can cause the pump to fail. As such, new wastewater will not come in to replace the old wastewater, producing a foul smell as a result.

A blocked venting system in the septic tank is another possible cause of a sewer smell in your house. This often happens if you’ve had work done on the home or to the landscaping, and the vents are no longer working properly. The result will be sewage gases that can’t escape from the wastewater, accumulating in your house instead and causing a foul smell.

For more information on septic tank inspection, contact Morse Engineering and Construction.

Source: bestsandiegoleakdetection.com

The best way to prevent damage to your septic system during a massive rainstorm is to maintain your system properly. There are a few things you can do to prepare your system for a storm:

• Have your system pumped every three to five years. To ensure your system is prepared to handle more water than usual, make sure you pump as recommended. A full septic tank is a recipe for disaster during a heavy storm, especially if it floods.
• Have your system inspected as recommended. To always be prepared for a downpour, have a professional inspect your septic system every three years. This routine check will ensure that all major problems are fixed before the weather gets bad.
• Watch what you put down your drains. As mentioned above, sending non-biodegradable materials down the drain can cause clogs. Make sure to toss food scraps into the trash. Never pour grease or oil down the kitchen sink. Always dispose of sanitary products and diapers in the trash, not the toilet.
• Keep runoff water away from your drainfield. Make sure that gutters aren’t spilling out onto your drainfield. This will cause excess rainwater absorption in the soil and make it hard for your drainfield to filter wastewater.
• Keep vehicles off your drainfield. Try your best not to park or drive over your drainfield. The added weight will weaken the soil and decrease its ability to filter wastewater.

Can Rain Cause My Septic Tank to Flood?

After heavy rainfall, it can be difficult to determine if flooding is causing issues with your septic tank. This has to do with the fact that the symptoms of a flooded tank are very similar to those of a tank that needs pumping or a pipe that’s clogged.

However, if you recently received a substantial amount of rain and are having problems with water draining in your home’s drains, it’s possible that your tank may be flooded. If this is the case, you may want to contact a professional to inspect and diagnose the issue.

In the meantime, your best course of action is to reduce the use of faucets or appliances that use water in your home. This will give your drainfield time to dry out. Pumping the tank or adding chemicals to help ease draining are not viable solutions. Unfortunately, all you can do is limit your water usage and set up an appointment with a septic tank specialist to determine solutions and evaluate any potential damage.

Source: upgradedhome.com