During the rainy season, it’s not uncommon to experience septic problems. Although heavy rain is a primary problem for septic tanks, other issues—such as a water hose or sprinkler system running for excessive periods — can cause the system to function improperly. If your home has a swimming pool, draining it can also cause the same flooding effect as heavy rain.
Plumber Inspection
The primary thing homeowners can do to prevent septic problems prior to the arrival of heavy rain is to have the septic system inspected by a certified local Long Beach Plumber. During an inspection, the local plumber will detect any issues with the septic tank, drains, and the drain field. There are a handful of reasons that a septic system could fail:
- Freezing temperatures during the winter may end up causing damage, including cracked or ruptured pipes.
- One or more drains in the home may be clogged. If the filtering screens inside the system are blocked, the liquid that should go to the drainfield will back up, causing the water to move into sinks, showers, and bathtubs.
- The soil may not be absorbent enough for the amount of liquid being processed through the system.
- Algae or tree roots may be blocking the pipes.
A Few Tips for Dealing with Existing Septic Problems
If you are currently experiencing septic problems due to excessive rainfall, there are a few things you can do that will give the drainage an opportunity to get back to common condition.
During the rainy season or whenever unexpected heavy rain happens and saturates the area, it will lower the amount of water going down the drain and into the system. The more time you give the flooded drainfield an opportunity to drain, the better. Follow these recommendation to aid in keeping things running as efficiently as possible.
- If there are a handful of family members in the home, limit the number of showers taken each day to one, and limit the amount of time each shower lasts.
- Basic procedures, such as not giving the faucet an opportunity to run while brushing your teeth or when washing dishes, assist in preventing more flooding of the pipes.
- Make every attempt to flush the toilet only when needed. Do not use your toilet as a trashcan by flushing tissues and other items that should go in the trash.
- Use the washing machine sparingly. A better option is to take the dirty clothes to the laundromat.