Septic tips from the University of Minnesota

Septic tips from the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center:

Do not add antifreeze, salt or a septic system additive into the system.

Do not pump sewage onto the ground surface.

Do not start a fire over the system to attempt to thaw it out.

Do not run water continually to try to unfreeze system.

Do:

1. Place 8-12 inches of mulch over the pipes, tank and drainfield for insulation. This mulch could be straw, leaves, hay or any other loose material that will stay in place and not compact. This is particularly important if you have had a new system installed late in the year and no vegetative cover has been established. (If your system is already frozen ignore this step, as it will delay thawing come spring.)

2. Let the grass in your lawn get a little longer in the late summer and fall over the tank and drainfield for insulation and to help hold any snow that may fall.

3. Use water, the warmer the better. While university experts usually advocate water conservation, if freezing is a concern, increasing low use to a normal water use can help. This includes spreading out your laundry schedule to possibly doing one warm/hot load per day, using your dishwasher and maybe even taking a hot bath. DO NOT leave water running all the time or it will overload the system.

4. If you know you are going to be gone for an extended period, have someone use water in the home regularly, or have your tank pumped before you go. By starting with an empty tank, you can then start fresh with warm effluent. If you use a cabin on a limited basis during the winter months, this may be a good idea as well.

5. Fix any leaky plumbing fixtures or appliances in your home. If you have appliances that generate very low flows such as high efficiency furnaces, you can put a heat tape in the pipe, and while on vacation have someone come by and run warm water for a while. Alternately, you could install a small condensate pump that holds and discharges 2 gallons per cycle.

6. Keep all types of vehicles and high traffic people activities off of the system year round.

7. Make sure all risers, inspections pipes and manholes have covers on them. Sealing them and adding insulation is a good idea. Insulation may be added during construction particularly if the top of the septic tank is within 2 feet of the surface.

8. Keep an eye on your system. If any seeping or ponding occurs contact a septic professional to help determine the cause and remedy.

9. Add more insulation to your system. This could include replacing pipe with insulated pipe, adding Styrofoam over septic tanks or adding more soil cover.

For more information go to www.septic.umn.edu/factsheets/freezingproblems or call (800) 322-8642

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