Tag Archives: Septic Questions

Wisconsin Winters and Your Septic System

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These cold winter months in Wisconsin can present a unique set of challenges for your septic system!  Here are some reminders and tips to help you avoid problems in our frigid weather:

  • Going on vacation?  Leaving for the winter to a warmer climate?  If so, keep in mind that lines can freeze without regular plumbing usage in the building. Then when you get home, you may experience draining issues throughout the house.  To avoid these problems, it can be helpful to have a house-sitter or a trusted neighbor stop in regularly to run some water down the sinks, drains, and flush the toilets.  It would also be a smart idea to let them know where your septic system’s covers are located, in case urgent service would be needed while you are away.
  • If you regularly use your system throughout the cold months, it will usually generate the needed warmth to avoid freezing.  However, if we have a dry winter with no consistent snow-cover, there is no natural insulator for the ground and your septic system.  If that’s the case, it can be helpful to lay some loose hay or straw on the manhole covers to act as insulation.  This can also be done on your drainfield if those lines are prone to freezing, especially for a mound system.
  • It is always wise to keep snowplows and other large vehicles or objects away from your tank and drainfield, thus reducing the risk of cracking your covers & risers or damaging any lines & components below ground.

We hope these tips help you get through the winter without any septic emergencies!  And, as always, stay safe & warm!

Three-Year Maintenance: Inspection vs. Full Pumping Service

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Have you received notice from your county that your three years are up?  Perhaps you’ve heard about companies advertising 3-year county maintenance inspections for a fraction of the cost of pumping…  There are only a few very specific situations where this would apply.  The statewide law that requires 3-year maintenance on septic systems states that the septic tank must be “less than 1/3 full of combined sludge and scum volume” in order to allow for an inspection only without pumping.  For the vast majority of our customers, this criteria is not met and so a full pumping service is performed to check the full health of the system.

Generally, a house must be vacant for the majority of those three years in order to meet this criteria, or perhaps the system is sitting unused and is currently not hooked up to any plumbing.  Any regular usage to the system will fill the septic tank with sludge and scum waste over 1/3 of the tank capacity and would therefore require pumping.  We also have seen a great benefit to emptying the tanks completely: it allows us to get a good look at the tank and entire system, ensuring all components are in place, in good condition, and doing what they should be doing.  We also clean the filter if your system has one – something not all inspectors do!  Failing to do this can result in back-up issues.

We are able to perform these inspections for the 3-year county maintenance requirement and defer the pumping when it applies.  We understand the intrigue of wanting to get by with an inspection only – give us a call to discuss if this is something that would apply to your septic system!

Does toilet paper harm my septic system?

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The answer is:  The softer the toilet paper the more chemicals were used to make it soft. These chemicals can be harmful to your system’s biological activity, just like anti-bacterial soaps and other harsh chemicals are. Pick a brand of toilet paper that is in-between for softness. Look for a brand that is “Septic Safe”. These brands are normally made with fewer chemicals and are better for your septic system.