Can Heavy Rain Flood My Septic Tank?
Rainy days on Long Island can be a time for relaxing inside and forgetting your troubles. But did you know that while you were keeping dry indoors, potential damage could be occurring in your own backyard? When extra moisture lands on the ground it could be flooding your septic tank without you even realizing it.
How A Septic Tank Gets Flooded
A Septic tanks has 3 Main Units:
- Inlet pipe: This pipe empties out all of the waste from your home into the septic tank.
- Tank: The tank is a two-chamber tank and is located underground. It holds the waste as it separates into sludge and effluent, or liquid.
- Drain field: The effluent is released into the soil through a perforated pipe. If it does not biodegrade properly, it could cause a clog. This is the part of the septic tank that could get saturated in the rain, causing it to flood.
It may be difficult to tell if your septic tank is flooded or not. Sometimes, it may just feel that there is a routine clog that needs pumping. But if water in your home is not draining properly, and there has recently been heavy rainfall, it is very likely that you have a flooded tank.
What Can I Do When My Tank is Flooded?
If your septic tank is unnaturally full of water, pumping it out yourself is not a viable solution. You can actually cause damage by attempting this. Instead, the best course of action is to significantly reduce the amount of water you use in your house. The drain field needs to be given time to try. Avoid using any appliances that use water. Truthfully the only real option is to call in a specialist. Trying to do the job yourself with chemicals will only worsen the problem.
Can I Prevent A Septic Tank Flood?
Thankfully, yes. Regular maintenance is the key to avoid flooding. But there are also several things you can do to avoid flooding your septic tank in times of heavy rain.
- Limit water use during a storm
- Flush only biodegradable material
- Make sure you know where your tank is. Do not drive or park near it.
- Only use biodegradable cleaners
- Regularly inspect and pump your septic tank
If you are not sure if you have a flood, call us and we’ll come check it out for you. We will also provide you a free quote for any work that might need to be done.