It is important to ensure that your septic system is properly maintained during the cold weather season. Cold temperatures can lead to pipes freezing, and frozen septic lines can burst. This could cause a serious mess on your property or even in your home. Here are a few winter tips to ensure your septic tank works all season long.

Insulate the Pipes

Temperatures often dip below freezing in the Greensboro area, which is why it’s important to insulate all pipes that run along an outside wall. This includes lines leading to and away from the tank. You can insulate them with foam insulation. In addition, heat tape can be used at junctions between the pipe and the wall.

Consider Crawl Space Encapsulation

Crawl space encapsulation can help reduce the risk of pipes freezing, including the septic lines in your crawl space. This process involves sealing your crawl space with a barrier to prevent moisture from entering, thus protecting your pipes from the outside environment.

Ensure That Septic Lines Are Buried Deep Enough

It’s essential to ensure that lines leading from the septic tank are buried deep enough to prevent them from freezing. Fortunately, the ground rarely freezes deeper than a foot or so in the Greensboro area.

Regularly Pump the Tank

Make sure there is always plenty of room in your septic tank. If a tank is overfull, it could lead to septic backing up into the house. In most cases, the tank should be pumped every three to five years. However, it may need to be pumped sooner if you have a large household.

Consider Pipe Relining

Pipe relining can make your pipes significantly stronger, which can reduce the risk of a burst pipe. The new lining will be clog-resistant. If water is flowing freely through a line, it’s far less likely to freeze. In addition, relined pipes are often less brittle, which makes them less likely to rupture.

Protect Drain Lines

Water moving away from sinks and tubs tends to flow more slowly than water flowing away from toilets. Thus, these lines are more likely to freeze during the winter, especially if there is debris in the pipes. This can cause water to back up into sinks and bathtubs. It can even lead to a burst pipe. Luckily, this can be prevented by properly insulating these lines.

We offer a wide range of septic maintenance services throughout the year, including tank pumping and pipe relining. So, if you live in Greensboro, North Carolina and need winter septic maintenance services, give Billingsley & Brooks a call today!