The holidays often put added strain on septic systems, from cooking more than usual to hosting extra guests. There are a variety of issues that can happen like
septic tank overload, drains backing up, or clogged pipes. Follow Honey Wagon’s septic system tips for the holidays to help get your home ready for the season!
5 Septic System Precautions You Should Follow
If you’re not careful with your septic system during the holidays, you could end up with a very un-merry emergency. Keep these five simple precautions in mind to help prevent
septic problems.
1. Get your septic tank pumped (if needed).
How often a septic tank needs pumping depends on the tank’s size and the number of occupants in the home, but a general recommendation is to pump once every three to four years. If it’s time to get your tank pumped, schedule it before you get too busy with the holidays.
2. Be mindful of bathroom usage.
Give at least ten minutes time in between showers or baths so the drain doesn’t back up. Also, don’t flush non-flushable products like cotton swabs, feminine hygiene products, and floss. This includes "flushable wipes" because they’re not water-soluble which will damage pipes and septic tanks.
3. Dispose of grease properly.
Avoid pouring grease, fats, or oils down the drain or garbage disposal because they’ll harden in your drains after cooling down and form into a clog. Instead, dispose of these substances in a garbage bin.
4. Run the garbage disposal with care.
If you’ll be using a garbage disposal, run the disposal with water to ensure the materials go down the drain. Also, don’t put too many materials in the disposal or wait to run it all at once so it’ll be easier to go down.
5. Throw away food scraps.
Like grease, make sure to throw away fibrous or starchy leftovers like celery, potato, peels, rice, pasta, etc., instead of putting them in the garbage disposal. Scrape any food leftovers into the garbage bin so they don’t clog your garbage disposal and drains.
Maintain Your Septic System This Holiday Season
Remember, when you
take care of your septic system, it will take care of you. Make sure to follow these septic system tips for the holidays to keep a preventable emergency from interrupting your festivities. If you have any concerns about your septic system, schedule an inspection to identify potential issues before they turn into bigger problems.
Honey-Wagon has been helping residential and commercial customers in the Kansas City area maintain their septic systems since 1986. We’re a family-owned septic company that services Miami, Wyandotte, and Johnson counties in Kansas, and Jackson and Cass in Missouri.
Contact us today at (913) 681-3563 or (816) 525-5100 to request an estimate!