Frozen Septic System Resources

Do You Have a Frozen Septic System? If you, there are 4 basic considerations: A. Where Did it Freeze? B. Why Did it Freeze? C. How to Unfreeze it? D. How Can I Prevent it from Happening Again? A. There are four common locations where systems can freeze. 1. Pipe from house to tank If the pipe between the house and septic tank froze, two issues need to evaluated. First, make sure there are no leaking fixtures, such as toilets or faucets, or low wastewater generating devices, such as a high efficiency furnace discharging into the system. Secondly, make sure the entire pipe has sufficient slope without any sags to assure water is draining into the septic tank (minimum of 1" drop in eight feet and a maximum 2" in eight feet). 2. Septic tank and/or pump tank When a septic tank freezes, the baffles need to be checked to verify that they are still in place and have not been damaged. The tank(s) should also be checked for cracks, although this occurs very rarely. Styrofoam which is designed to be buried can be placed over the tank to insulate it by removing the soil cover, placing 1-3 inches of styrofoam, and replacing the soil cover). If there is a pump in the system, it should be inspected to make sure it is working properly. It is important that the pump is accessible at all times. This may require the installation of a riser to bring the access to the surface. Because bringing the manhole to the surface will allow more heat loss from the tank, it is a good idea to add Styrofoam under the manhole cover or place insulation (loose material such as straw, hay or leaves) over the top of the cover each fall. 3. Pipe to soil treatment area  If there is a pump in the last tank, it is critical that when the pump shuts off, all the effluent drains back into the tank through a weep hole. A weep hole is typically a ¼-inch hole in the lowest portion of the piping in the manhole. This weep hole will drain water even when the pump is on. Two common problems in pump tanks are check valves that do not allow effluent to drain back and pumping systems designed for drainback through the pump. A licensed onsite sewage treatment professional can determine if a check valve is in place or if the effluent is draining through the pump. 4. Soil treatment area If the soil or mound was soggy or wet before the winter, the system needs a thorough evaluation by an onsite sewage treatment professional to determine why it is not operating properly. If sewage comes to the surface while frozen in the winter, this creates a health risk to people or animals that come in contact with it. The solution may be as simple as bringing in additional topsoil or a more extensive reworking of this part of the system. Checking the distribution system should also be done. In gravity situations drop or distribution boxes should be checked and in pressure applications the system should be verified. B. Why Do You Have a Frozen Septic System? 1. Lack of snow cover. Lack of snow allows frost to go deeper into the ground, which can potentially cause a frozen system. 2. Waterlogged system. Failing septic systems (where the waste water comes to the surface or out the side of a mound) are a prime candidate. 3. Pipes not draining properly. Anytime there is a dip or low spot in a pipe, sewage can collect and freeze. This is a fairly common problem. 4. Cold air entering the system. Open and uncapped riser or inspection pipes and manhole covers can allow cold air into the system and cause it to freeze. 5. Leaking fixtures, which send a small film of water into the pipes. Small amounts of water can freeze more readily than larger flows. 6. Irregular use. Regular sewage flows help maintain sufficient temperatures in the system and prevent it from freezing. 7. Compacted snow and/or soil. Compacted snow and soils do not insulate as well. C. How Can You Unfreeze Your Frozen Septic System? The best thing to do is call a licensed septic contractor. Most use pressure washers that generate steam to thaw the system. They have professional tools such as steamers, high-pressure jetters, tank heaters, heat tape and special cameras that can be used in the pipes to determine where the septic system is frozen. You also want to call them immediately to make an appointment, as septic contractors are often extremely busy during a cold snap and it could take 5-10 days for them to get to your house.  If you want to try to unfreeze your system yourself, there are some options. A regular septic system will usually start freezing at the distribution box and and work its way out. If your system has a pump tank, that is where they usually start freezing. If you are lucky there will be a way to open them up, but in most cases you will be dealing with frozen ground.  If you are careful you could build a fire over the area and try to thaw out the ground. If you know someone that digs graves, they often use a propane-fired heating device to thaw the ground for winter business. Once you get to the distribution box (or pump tank), you can run a garden hose from your water heater and use hot water to thaw things out. You will also want to put some hot water into the septic tank itself to raise the temperate inside it. Before you do this, make sure to get some hay spread out over the system, as even hot water will cool off quickly in cold temperatures. Also, make sure to bring the hose inside the house before using it, to make sure it isn't plugged with ice, and bring it back inside the house afterward in case you need to use it again.     D. How Can I Prevent My System from Freezing Again? 1. Place an 8-12” layer of mulch over the pipes, tank and leach field to provide extra insulation. 2. Use more hot water; spread out laundry loads to ensure enough hot water is flowing through the system on a regular basis. 3. If you will be leaving for an extended period of time, have someone there, such as a caretaker, to keep the system in use. Or, you can pump out your tank before leaving 4. Fix any leaking plumbing fixtures or appliances. 5. Add more insulation to your system, i.e. replace pipe with insulated pipe, add Styrofoam over septic tanks or add more soil cover. 6. Avoid driving and walking over the system. 7. Make sure all risers, inspection pipes and manholes have covers on them. You can also seal and insulate them for an extra measure of protection. NEW! There is now a new product called the Septic Heater which can prevent your septic system from freezing. This invention uses a fan to blow warm air through the pipes, preventing them from freezing. It is the only product in the world that actually prevents frozen septic systems. More information can be found at http://www.laundry-alternative.com/septic-systems.htm.