How To Keep Your Septic System From Becoming A Thanksgiving Disaster
Posted on: 30 October 2017
With Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season just around the corner, there's a good chance you're planning a get-together for friends and family. But as you set the plates and trim the turkey for a fantastic Thanksgiving feast, you should also pay close attention to your home's septic system. An unexpected septic backup can easily put an end to almost any dinner plan.
If you don't want your holiday plans ruined by a septic system mishap, then it pays to follow the tips listed below:
Avoid Flushing or Rinsing Fats and Oils
Turkey drippings, gravy and other types of solids and fats are not only capable of clogging up sink drains, but they can also cause blockages once they end up in your septic tank. An accumulation of fat and grease can plug up leach field pipes and cause wastewater to back up into your home.
If you need to get rid of fats, oils, and grease, you're better off storing them temporarily in a suitable spare container. Once they're full, you can have them disposed of at your local recycling center or landfill. Don't forget that some fats, oils, and greases can be safely reused once they've been properly filtered.
Keep Those Leftovers Out of the Garbage Disposal
Your garbage disposal offers a convenient way to get rid of table scraps. However, it could also prove to be your septic system's undoing, especially if you're hosting a big dinner and have plenty of dirty plates to take care of.
Instead of rinsing all of your dirty dishes, scrape out any remaining bits of food over the garbage can. This way, you can reduce the amount of fatty food scraps that you send through your garbage disposal and down the drain.
Stagger Your Family's Bathing and Showering Times
Normally, ordinary activities like bathing and showering won't have a major impact on your septic system. Add a few extra guests and the extra water usage changes that situation dramatically. If anyone needs to shower or bathe, make sure there's a ten-minute break between each go, so your drains and septic system will have time to properly process the wastewater flow.
Have Your Septic System Checked Before the Holidays
Before having any type of large event this holiday season, it might be a good idea to have a professional take a close look at your septic system. A pre-holiday inspection can help you spot and correct any issues that could cause problems later on.
If you haven't had your septic system pumped out yet, now is also a good time to get that done. With an empty septic tank, your septic system stands a better chance of handling the rigors of that big Thanksgiving or Christmas event. Contact a local plumbing repairs team for more information and assistance.
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