Tips to Avoid Septic Tank Backups During the Holidays

Having friends and family over for the holidays is always an exciting and fun time. However, homeowners with septic tanks are always on edge during Thanksgiving in Lancaster, NY—the last thing they want is a septic tank backup when all their family members are in town.

Fortunately, you can avoid any septic tank mishaps by following some basic precautionary measures while your guests are staying over. Keep reading to learn how to prevent backups and protect your septic system this season:

• Schedule septic tank pumping: The best way to avoid a backup when guests are in town is to have your tank pumped prior to their arrival. On top of pumping all of the solids from your tank, your septic professional will clean the filter and inspect your system. All of these preventative measures will almost guarantee nothing goes awry with your system while guests are in town.
• Plan your showers: Overuse is one of the main causes of septic failure, and too many showers at once are often the cause. Try to stagger everyone’s showers throughout the day. If possible, have some people shower in the morning and others at night before bedtime. Reducing the amount of water in the tank at once greatly reduces the chance of a backup.
• Be careful with the dishwasher: You’re bound to have a ton of dirty dishes when you have family visiting in Lancaster, NY. To reduce the risk of a backup, be thoughtful about your dishwashing habits. Instead of hand washing all of your dishes in the sink, run one load of dishes in the morning and one in the evening. Just be sure nobody’s in the shower while you run the dishwasher.
• Limit clothes washing: Running too many loads of laundry will fill the septic tank with water, potentially causing a backup. To help ensure that doesn’t happen, plan to do your laundry either before your guests arrive or after they leave. If you must do laundry while they’re in town, plan to do loads over the course of a few days instead of all at once.
• Watch what goes down the toilet: Some of your guests may not be aware that your home is on a septic tank in Lancaster, NY. If that’s the case, they might toss things other than toilet paper in the toilet without giving it a second thought. To reduce the chance of this happening—and causing a subsequent backup—place a trash can next to the toilet and leave a sign out as a reminder.
• Mind the kitchen sink: Just like the toilet, the kitchen sink and garbage disposal are not meant to be used as trash receptacles. Be sure that everyone helping out in the kitchen tosses solid food in the trash instead of down the kitchen sink. Additionally, ensure nobody dumps oil or grease down the drain, as that will cause a major blockage when it hardens.

Hire our professionals today!

To ensure you have a perfect Christmas in Lancaster, NY, call the professionals at Macken Services, Inc. to service your tank. On top of pumping your septic tank, we can perform a full inspection to ensure your system will function as needed throughout the holiday season.

Categorised in: Septic Systems

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