You may have heard at some point that heavy rain and septic systems aren’t always the greatest combination. Here are some ways you can protect your septic system through storm season.
From June 1 to November 30, Florida’s storm season brings the potential for heavy rain, high winds, and flooding. While you may already be busy preparing in other ways, it’s wise to stop and consider how well heavy rain and septic systems get along with one another.
Can Heavy Rain Damage A Septic System?
The short answer is “Yes,” but with our 30+ years in the business, we can offer tips to help you prepare your system, minimize risks, and protect your home when bad weather hits.
In Florida, you know that storms have the potential to damage anything in their path. Understanding how heavy rain affects septic tanks and drain fields can help you take the right precautions. Storms blowing in from the Atlantic can:
Saturate your septic drain field, preventing proper filtration
Cause ground flooding that enters and overwhelms the system
All of the potential impacts of heavy storms on your septic system are expensive and stressful to manage after the fact. Following are a few ways that homeowners can prepare for bad weather and minimize damage to their septic systems.
Maintain A Pump-Out Schedule
Maintaining regular septic pump-outs is one of the best ways to protect your septic system against backups, clogs, and breakdown – whether it’s storm season or not. For most homeowners, septic pump-outs should take place once every 3-5 years. However, when heavy rain and septic systems are part of the equation, it’s even more critical that you schedule a septic pump-out if you know you’re due for one.
During a septic pump-out, both solid (sludge) and liquid (scum) waste are removed from the tank. Without regular maintenance, this waste can build up and quickly cause your system to reach capacity. Combine a full septic tank with rising flood waters or saturated ground, and you have a perfect recipe for problems such as backups, overflow, and an overwhelmed drain field.
Schedule An Inspection
Septic inspections are a helpful and often required element of septic system ownership. This service allows a professional to examine the interior of your septic tank, including the walls of the tank, the baffles, and inlet and outlet pipes. Inspections also include an evaluation of your drain field and its operation.
If some part of your tank needs to be repaired or is not functioning properly, inspections ensure that these problems are identified before stormy weather hits.
Schedule Needed Repairs
If it is discovered that some part of your septic tank needs to be repaired or replaced, it’s best to schedule work before you’re in the middle of a downpour. Accomplishing repairs ahead of time helps protect your home and septic system from the impact of heavy rain and flooding.
Know When To Call A Professional
Even with proper preparation, heavy rain and storm conditions can still cause issues with your septic tank. While it’s best to avoid pumping a septic tank until the ground has dried, some problems can and should be addressed immediately following a storm. Watch for these signs that it’s time to contact a septic professional:
If you notice any of these signs in or around your home, don’t wait to contact a member of our team. We won’t leave you hanging in the moments when you need help the most.
Heavy Rain And Septic Systems Don’t Mix – Be Prepared
Stormy weather can be unpredictable, but a little preparation goes a long way in protecting your septic system – and your home – from the elements.
Contact us today for a pre-storm season pump-out, inspection, or repair.
