Summer Septic Tips for High Water Usage in Central PA

Summer in Pennsylvania means more water use around the home. Even though homeowners need to focus on keeping their lawns watered and cooling down during harsh heatwaves, it’s easy to overlook how all of this extra strain can put additional stress on your septic system. The good news here is that a few good habits can help you to avoid soggy yards, as well as expensive repairs. If you want to protect your system during long periods of high water usage, take a look below.

Summer Puts Additional Stress on your Septic System

A septic system is designed to process wastewater gradually. Every time you flush the toilet, load the dishwasher, or even do laundry, this will send water into your septic tank and to the drainfield. In summer, you may find that your daily water usage increases dramatically without you even realizing it. There are a couple of reasons why this can happen, such as if you have kids who are coming home for summer break or if you are doing more laundry because your family is taking part in more summer sports. You may find that if you are entertaining guests outside, more people end up using your bathroom. Heavy summer storms, which are common in Pennsylvania, can also put extra pressure on groundwater.

What Happens when Too Much Water Enters the Septic Tank System?

If too much water enters the system in a short period of time, then the solids may not have time to separate properly. This can push waste into the drainfield before it’s ready, which increases the chance of pooling water, odor, and clogs. This can also dramatically increase your risk of drainfield failure.

High water usage in summer is one of the main reasons why septic tanks fail. Between family visiting, having kids who are home, and having to do extra laundry, your household requirements are much greater. The challenge is that septic tanks have to process wastewater gradually. If you have soil that is saturated, then this can make the issue even worse. That’s why managing high water usage is so important, especially in summer. Simple steps, like spacing out how often you do your laundry, limiting excess water during family gatherings, and scheduling regular septic tank maintenance, are all good ways for you to reduce the amount of stress your system is under.

Summer Septic Tips for Pennsylvania Residents

Some of the top summer septic tips include staggering your water usage. One of the best and simplest ways for you to support your system would be for you to avoid using too much water at once. A lot of homeowners overload their system because they do back-to-back laundry while their dishwasher is on, or they have multiple people shower, one after another, when going out. If you have multiple bathrooms in the household, then this can compound issues even more. A good way for you to help your household’s septic tank system without making too many lifestyle changes would be for you to install some water-efficient fixtures where you can.

Be Mindful of Hosting Guests during Summer

If you plan to host guests during the summer, whether it’s for a family BBQ or to simply enjoy the sunshine, then you need to be careful. Cookouts, holidays, and family visits can all put extra pressure on your septic system. One of the best summer septic tips would be for you to remind your guests not to flush any wipes, feminine products, or paper towels down the toilet. You should also try to keep any grease or food scraps out of your sink drainage systems, and to avoid overusing your garbage disposal too much after heavy cooking sessions. Spread showers, or any loads of laundry, throughout the day as well. 

Many septic tank emergencies happen right after family gatherings, because the increase in wastewater puts too much pressure on the system. Routine maintenance is one of the best ways for you to stop any septic tank repairs, and it also allows you to pinpoint issues before they become too much to deal with.

Know the Early Warning Signs of Septic Tank Issues

Another one of the top summer septic tips in Central PA would be to train yourself to spot warning problems. Septic tank emergencies don’t happen without any build-up or indication. There are always things to watch out for, but as a homeowner, you may find that it’s difficult to spot them when you have a busy home life. If possible, you need to pay attention to slow-draining sinks or tubs, and you also need to be mindful of gurgling toilets and pipes. Aside from this, sewage odors, whether it is indoors or outdoors, can also cause major issues. Wet or unusually green patches in your yard or garden can also be big signs that you have an issue. 

Symptoms like this can help you to see that your tank is either getting full or that your drainfield is not able to absorb wastewater properly. The good news is that we at Sonlight Services can help by identifying issues early, before they turn into full system failures.

How to Protect Your Drainfield in Summer

Protecting your drainfield in summer is so important. One thing to take note of is that summer storms can create a lot of moisture in the soil, and when the ground becomes saturated, you may find that wastewater cannot drain properly through the soil. If you want to give your drainfield some protection, then it is imperative that you avoid parking vehicles on the drainfield and that you keep any heavy equipment away from the area. It’s also important that you redirect your gutters and downspouts away from the system. If you have excessive lawn irrigation near your drainfield, then this can also lead to issues.

Compacted soil and groundwater can also reduce your system’s ability to function as it should, so keeping things like this in mind is so important.

Schedule Preventive Septic Pumping 

One of the best summer septic tips in Central PA would be for you to try to make sure that you schedule regular pumping. You should also schedule regular drain cleaning to make sure that you’re not overwhelming your system.  Many homeowners wait until there’s a real issue or foul odor before hiring a service to do an inspection, but by this point, there’s a good chance that a lot of the damage has been done. This can also lead to costly repairs that are completely avoidable. One of the best things you can do is try to routinely pump your septic tank, as this removes any solids and also stops drainfield clogs as well. Aside from this, it also helps you to improve your system efficiency. Your septic system will have its lifespan extended significantly, and you can also reduce the likelihood of an emergency failure. 

We here at Sonlight Services can help you to take advantage of residential septic pumping in Central PA, with technicians who have years of experience. As a homeowner, you can feel confident that your system is in good hands.

Don’t Overlook Slow Drains

If you have a slow drain, then this can seem minor, but at the same time, it can also indicate that you have a much bigger issue to deal with. Drain problems often start slowly, with water pooling in your sink or even toilets requiring lots of flushes. You may also find that your shower drain is slow and that you have a lot of gurgling in your pipes. If you leave things like this untreated, then you may find that you end up having to deal with a major backup or even additional strain on your drainfield. 

Commercial Properties Can Also Feel the Strain of Summer

Summer doesn't just affect residential properties; it can affect commercial properties, too. Restaurants, event venues, and even churches can also experience increased wastewater demand during warmer weather. When you have a commercial septic or waste tank failure, it’s easy for your whole operation to be disrupted. The potential downtime can also cause serious stress on you as a business owner. When you have a commercial septic tank fail, you will also have to deal with health code concerns, as well as downtime and customer complaints. Luckily, we here at Sonlight Services can provide you with commercial waste removal, so you can feel confident knowing that we are going to resolve the issue in the shortest space of time.

Safeguarding Yourself Against Summer Septic Tank Issues

If you want to safeguard yourself against septic tank issues in summer, one of the best things you can do is sign up for our membership program. With drainfield replacement costing on average $30,000, and with emergency repair costs coming to $4,000, it’s important to make sure that you have peace of mind. Luckily, for $24.95 a month, you can get a 25-point system audit done, along with 12 months of bacteria and enzyme supply. With emergency coverage included, you can feel confident knowing that your system is going to be maintained regardless of the season.

Get a Free Quote for your Septic Tank System Inspection

If you want to find out more about our membership, or if you are interested in getting an inspection done, contact us through our website.  When you do, one of our helpful team members will give you a quote that covers the cost of your inspection, with no hidden fees.