Can Rain Affect My Septic Tank?

Heavy rain can affect your septic tank in many ways, especially when it is due to be pumped or has not been properly maintained.

Heavy rain can flood your leach field and make it difficult for the soil to process effluent properly, thereby leading to a host of problems, including wastewater backup, slow drains, foul odors around the drainfield, and slow drains.

If you’re wondering if rain can affect your septic tank, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will talk about how downpours can impact your septic tank and what you can do to prepare for heavy rains and prevent septic problems.

• Ground Flooding

Heavy rainfall can oversaturate the ground around the drainfield, making it impossible for water to flow out of the septic tank. The ground surrounding the drainfield is designed to handle a certain amount of wastewater. When heavy rainfall saturates the soil area around the septic tank, the effluent from the tank will have nowhere to go, and this will cause the system to backup into your home through pipes, toilets, and sinks.

Ground flooding caused by excessive rainfall can lead to slow drains, gurgling sounds in toilet and drains, and groundwater contamination.

• Clogged Drainfield

Heavy rainfall can quickly flood the drainfield and compromise the entire system. Over-saturated drain field soil means the wastewater being discharged from the septic tank won’t have anywhere else to go. With nowhere to go, the wastewater will back up into your drains and toilets, or even overflow your septic tank. A flooded drainfield can also lead to sewage leaking into groundwater and other water sources.

Below are some of the things you can do to help keep your septic tank in good working condition throughout rainy season.

• Pump your septic tank every 2-5 years—If your septic tank is full, ensure it is pumped and emptied before the rainy season to prevent overflowing, wastewater backup and other problems. A septic tank should be pumped every 2-5 years depending on the size of the tank, number of people in a household, and the age of your septic tank. Septic tank pumping ensures good drainflow, eliminates bad smells from the tank, and prevents damage to septic system filters.

If you are looking for a dependable septic company to help you with septic tank pumping, call Septic Blue of Charlotte to help you out.

• Direct runoff—Runoff water combined with over-saturated drainfield soil can cause your septic tank a lot of problems. Ensure you direct runoff water away from the drainfield to prevent water from pooling up.
• Do not drive or park heavy machinery on your drainfield---Heavy vehicles and machinery can crush drainfield pipes and compress the soil, thereby reducing its absorbency.

Need Reliable Septic Tank Repair? Call Septic Blue of Charlotte

If you are looking for a reliable septic company to help you with septic tank repair, septic tank pumping or septic installations, you can rely on Septic Blue of Charlotte to do a good job.