Ready or not; the holidays are coming! Is your septic tank ready?

The holidays are approaching, which means your home is about to go through one of its busiest and most challenging times of the year. Colder weather, increased activity, and reliance on your home systems often lead to various issues, affecting every part of your home, including your septic system. Let's be honest, septic tanks are often forgotten until there is a problem. The septic system is crucial for your home, and dealing with any problems related to it can be quite frustrating.

What is your septic system feeling during the holidays?

The answer is STRAIN! During the holidays, when people gather with friends and family, there is added strain on home plumbing. With more people in the house, there are more showers, toilet flushes, and use of the septic tank system. Not only that, holiday time brings holiday parties, food prep, washing dishes, and more! When cooking for a crowd, people may take shortcuts, such as pouring grease down the drain instead of disposing of it properly. This can lead to the accumulation of fatty, sticky grime in drain lines, resulting in clogged drains and potential damage to septic systems. Food waste can cause backups in septic tanks, clog leach fields, and lead to serious plumbing emergencies, which is something no one wants to deal with when hosting guests.

Keep an eye out for slow-draining sinks, bathtubs, and toilets. Also, watch for blocked drains, gurgling sounds coming from your plumbing, and, of course, sewage backups.

How to skip that septic holiday emergency.

Avoiding a problem with your septic system during the holiday season is not impossible. With some simple preparation methods and extra precautions, you can keep your septic system in pristine condition.

Be transparent with your guest.

Be open and honest with your guests. In the United States, about 75% of people are connected to city sewer systems, and most are unaware of the dos and don'ts when it comes to a septic system. You might be surprised to find that your guests will be intrigued by how your septic system functions. When connected to city sewers, you do not have to be as cautious about what goes down the drain because the system is designed to handle various types of waste. However, it is important to note that operating a septic system requires some extra care and attention. You can advise your guests to space out water-intensive activities such as laundry, showers, and dishwashing to prevent overloading your septic system with excessive wastewater.

Whatever goes in, must come out... one way or another!

Septic systems cannot handle food waste the same way a standard sewage connection would. Therefore, food waste needs to be monitored closely. It is never a good idea to pour grease or fat down the drain. It is also important to avoid flushing items such as diapers, paper towels, and feminine products, as they can significantly damage a septic system and disrupt the delicate balance of processing bacteria in the septic tank.

Pump before you party.

If you are expecting more than a couple guests at your home, it is important to prepare in advance by maintaining your septic system. No one wants a nasty holiday surprise that can quickly spiral out of control when you need it most. If you want to take one worry off your list this holiday season, go ahead and pump before you party. Schedule a septic tank pumping service to make sure your tank is all set to handle the extra strain during the holiday season!