2 Reasons To Have Your Septic Tank Pumped Before Cold Weather Sets In

If your home has a septic tank, you may already keep up with a pumping schedule recommended by a professional service. If winter is approaching and you feel that the tank may need to be cleaned out soon, you may be wondering if you should do it now or wait until spring. 

Especially if you live in an area where the temperatures drop and stay below freezing, you should consider going ahead and scheduling an extra pumping just to be safe. There are a couple of reasons why you should have your tank pumped before frigid weather sets in. 

1. Waste Material Does Not Break Down As Quickly When Temperatures Drop below Freezing

One reason you should have your home's septic tank pumped before winter arrives is that waste material does not break down as quickly when the temperatures drop below freezing. Inside the tank, the beneficial bacteria responsible for decomposing the waste matter need a certain temperature range to stay active.

If sub-freezing weather lasts for days, the ground around the tank will also freeze, causing a dip in the temperature inside the tank. Because the tank is cold, the bacteria will slow down, causing waste material to build up. This could lead to an overflow if the tank is already close to being full and is not pumped beforehand.

2. Frigid Temperatures and Wintry Precipitation Can Lead to the Freezing of the Septic System’s Drainfield

Another reason why you should pump out the tank is that frigid temperatures and wintry precipitation can freeze the system's drainfield. Once the solid material is broken down, the excess wastewater is leeched out into the drainfield.

If the drainfield becomes frozen, the wastewater will start to back up into the tank. If the tank is already full of solid material that is slowly decomposing due to the freezing temperatures, the wastewater could back up into the sewer line and make its way up into your home's drains.

When the temperatures in your area drop below freezing, the water material in your home's septic tank will not break down as quickly and the drainfield could freeze. If the tank is already close to full, these issues could cause a backup of sewage into your home. To keep this from happening, contact a business in your area that offers septic pumping services to schedule a time for them to come out and clean the tank before the cold weather of winter sets in.

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