When winter time comes, the freezing temperatures put your Boulder County septic system at risk for freezing potential. It is important to understand what this is and what it might mean for your system. Knowing how to prevent it can help you to protect your system during the cold months.
What is Septic Tank Freezing Potential?
When the weather is very cold, there is a risk of your septic system freezing. This tends to be most common when the following conditions are present along with severely cold temperatures:
· A lack of snow cover which means that the area above the septic tank has nothing to help insulate it.
· Compacted soils are more likely to experience a deeper freeze, increasing the risk of this problem.
· Compacted snow will not provide the same level of insulation as snow that it not compacted.
· Using your system irregularly, such as not using it for prolonged period of time can result in freezing due to the system not maintaining a sufficient temperature.
· If your pipes are not draining properly, they are at a higher risk of freezing.
· Lack of plant cover might not provide sufficient insulation against the cold.
· If you have any plumbing features that are leaking, there is a risk of freezing inside the pipe due to a slow sewage trickle making its way into your system.
· If your system is water logged, the effluent might not be able to get to the soil due to some of it freezing.
· If covers are missing or not on properly, this could allow cold air to get into the system and cause freezing.
What Issues Might Freezing Potential Cause for Your Septic System?
If your Boulder County septic system freezes, there is the potential for some damage that could be costly to fix. The damage can occur just about anywhere in your system and when it happens, the longer it remains unfixed, the worse the issues might become. Any type of septic system freezing requires evaluation and fixing from a professional. Attempting to fix the problem on your own could increase the risk of further damage.
What Can I Do to Reduce the Risk of Septic System Freezing Potential?
There are several things you can do to work to reduce the risk of your system freezing and these include:
· Give your system additional insulation during the cold months. You can use a variety of materials to do this, such as mulch, leaves, straw or hay. You want the layer of insulation to be approximately eight to 12 inches.
· Do not allow your system to sit dormant in the cold months.
· Make sure that any plumbing issues, including minor leaks, are fixed before the cold weather hits.
You can see that freezing potential can certainly be an issue for septic tanks. However, there are things that you can do. It is important to start preparing your system before the coldest weather hits so that the risk of freezing potential is as low as possible.