How Do You Prevent A Septic Tank Freeze-up? Advice For Rural Homeowners From St. Louis County

Officials with Saint Louis County have some timely advice for rural homeowners:  A little precaution today in regards to your septic system could prevent costly and inconvenient problems later on this winter.

So far this winter, we've started off with little to no snowfall in the Northland.  And - as we get into the coldest months of winter, that could pose to be a problem for homeowners who depend on a septic system for their sewage.

A blanket of snow on the ground insulates the ground and the stuff you have buried underneath it;  water lines and sewage systems immediately come to mind. While water lines can freeze up as the cold reaches further into the ground, it's often the sewer lines that start to cause problems first - as they see less "running" water.

County officials offer the following tips to rural septic tank users to help prevent those freeze ups:

• Add a layer of mulch (eight to 12 inches of hay or straw) over the pipes, tank and soil treatment area. Keep the mulch loose to form air pockets, which act as insulation. This is particularly important if a system is new and vegetative cover has not been well established.
• Use normal amounts of water; the warmer the better. Spread out laundry schedules to one warm/hot load per day.
• Don’t leave water running to prevent freezing. A slow trickle could freeze, while a steady stream could overload the system.
• If a homeowner will be gone for a week or more, have someone visit and use hot water regularly.
• Re-route the drip water from high efficiency furnaces. The slow drip can freeze in the pipes. Route this clean water into the footing drain sump or a bucket.
• Fix any leaky plumbing. Small trickles of water going into the system can freeze as thin ice layers within pipes, and eventually close them.
• Keep all vehicles (including ATV’s and snowmobiles) off the septic system.
• Make sure all risers, inspection pipes and manholes have tight covers. Adding insulation is a good idea. Check for any cracks in the covers.
• Consider installing a septic tank heater.