Over the past couple of months, we have seen lots of wind and heavy rain. From storms Gerrit, Henk, Isha, and most recently Jocelyn. Whilst they may have harmless-sounding names, unfortunately, they have caused a lot of flooding and damage to properties up and down the UK.
As the storms have come one after the other in close succession, many people have found that they are having problems with their septic tanks, from blockages to complete failure of the septic tank system.
So, we have put together a guide on how to look after your septic tank, prepare it for heavy rain, and what maintenance is required during these (long) wet and windy months.
Can too Much Rain Cause Septic Problems?
When asked does heavy rain affect septic tank systems? The short answer is yes.
When the water level of the soil becomes higher than normal (where the soil is saturated and cannot soak up any more water) it can become higher than the outlet from the septic tank. This can lead to water draining back into the tank, mixing with the effluent and essentially filling the tank completely.
When soil becomes saturated, it can inhibit effective draining and result in water backing up into toilets and drains and eventually, failure of the system. This can lead to contamination of the surrounding environment and further damage to the tank.
It is important to look out for signs of potential issues with your septic tank, especially during periods of heavy rain and/or flooding.
Signs of a Flooded Septic Tank
There are lots of signs of a flooded septic tank, some of which may occur inside the home and some which may be noticeable around the area of your septic tank. These include:
Outside the Home
- Boggy soil and new plant growth which seems to be growing better than other areas of your garden
- Gurgling sounds near the drainage system
- Nearby soil is clogged and contaminated
- Inspection chambers full of waste (ideally you shouldn’t be able to see any)
- Effluent emerging on the grass
Inside the Home
- Slow or stopped flushing in the home
- Washing machines flowing over, toilets clogging and over filling
- Strong or pungent smelling drains (this can be inside and outside the home)
These are all signs of a flooded septic tank and require attention as soon as possible.
Can I Implement Preventive Measures?
In England, we are frequently hit with changing weather. During just one week we may experience sunshine, heavy rain, and snow! It isn’t uncommon in the UK! But there are ways that we can prevent and look after septic tanks for our extreme weather conditions.
Before winter when we know heavy rainfall is likely, you can prevent issues with your septic tank by ensuring it is in good working order and has been cleaned and maintained in preparation. Making sure your septic tank has been emptied before heavy rainfall will make it less likely to have problems. It will also make it easier to fix should any issues arise.
You can also help the soil around your septic tank by ensuring that it isn’t compacted through heavy use, such as driving or parking around it. This will help any heavy rain soak throughout the land and is less likely to cause flooding near the septic tank.
What Should I Do During Heavy Rain?
During heavy rainfall, there are things you can do to ensure the proper running of your septic tank and these mostly include keeping a good check on how it is running to prevent bigger issues.
Can too much rain cause septic problems? Absolutely! If you notice water pooling in your drainage area, slow draining of sinks, toilets, washing machines, etc, water backing up, or strange noises in your pipes – these can all be early signs that something isn’t working properly.
Should you notice any of these signs, it is important to get the experts in as soon as possible to ensure that your system doesn’t stop working and to prevent harmful contaminants from flooding your garden and the local environment. It could also prevent the risk of a massive failure or damage to your septic tank which could be costly.
What Should I Do After Heavy Rain?
If you notice any of the above changes in your septic tank following heavy rainfall, it is important to get it checked as soon as possible. The tank may require minor fixing, or if it was not maintained properly before heavy rainfall, the system may have been damaged.
It is important to get issues fixed as soon as they occur or you will likely counter further problems later on or during further heavy rain. Fixing the issue before it turns into something bigger is far more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
Septic Tank Emptying by A Better Service
A Better Service has been providing septic and cesspit tank emptying since 1989 – with over 34 years of experience in this industry, our expert team can quickly assess your septic tank and ensure that any damage or issues caused by heavy rainfall are fixed quickly and affordably.
We have a large fleet of tankers in a range of different sizes to ensure that our emptying services are readily available to suit any project.
Our team are highly experienced and will clean, empty, and maintain your septic tank with minimal disruption to your day and take pride in completing the job safely without damage to your property or your septic tank.
Contact our team today to find out how A Better Service can ensure the safe and prolonged working of your septic tank.
