Winter temperatures can freeze septic pipes.
Slow drains and sewage backups in winter, could be a sign of frozen septic system pipes. Frozen septic pipes and septic tanks can break and leak, causing flooded basements -- expensive and difficult to clean. Septic system maintenance companies use steam or hot water under pressure to thaw frozen pipes. While a frozen pipe can be thawed, winter excavation to fix broken pipes is expensive. Fortunately, there are other options. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Frozen Pipe Prevention
1. Eliminate vehicle and foot traffic over the septic pipes or the drain-field. Traffic compacts the soil and drives winter frost into the ground.
2. Eliminate pipes that run underneath driveways or sidewalks. Plowed areas in the winter are more prone to freezing.
3. Add cover soil on top of pipes to at least 12 inches.
4. Insulate with straw or other cover as an added barrier over pipe runs, the septic tank and the drain-field. Disperse the cover loosely over the area to at least 6 inches thick.
5. Re-set improperly installed pipe runs. Wastewater piping should have a 1 percent to 2 percent slope along its entire length and have absolutely no dips. All lines filled by a pump should drain back to the septic tank.
6. Replace the septic lines with insulated pipe. Insulated pipe provides a thermal barrier between the frost in the ground and running water in the pipe.
7. Install a weep hole in the pipe attached to the effluent pump. A weep hole drains the liquid out of the supply pipe so it does not hold water.
8. Use the system. A septic system not in use will eventually freeze. Wastewater entering from the house adds warmth to the septic tank.
Tags: septic pipes, septic tank, least inches, pipe runs, weep hole