Septic systems are buried underground and are usually strong enough to withstand the weight of people walking by, even if you’re hosting a backyard barbecue. However, parking or driving over any part of your system can cause severe damage to your plumbing and costly septic repair bills. Below are a few reasons you should keep your car away from your septic tank.

3 Reasons to Avoid Parking Over Your Septic Tank

1. Cave-Ins

Septic tanks are made of either concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene, all of which are incredibly durable. However, the tank itself is hollow and may collapse under the weight of a car, truck, or even an ATV. A cave-in will likely destroy your septic tank, but you’ll also probably have to replace your vehicle, as well. To make matters worse, spilled waste from a crushed septic tank can contaminate the soil and nearby rivers and streams.

2. Shifts in the Ground

Even if the tank itself doesn’t collapse, the weight of a vehicle can cause the ground to shift, breaking pipes and threatening the integrity of the entire system. This is especially common in wet conditions when moisture makes soil more mobile and increases the chances that the tank could shift.

3. Damaged Drain Field

The septic tank isn’t the only part of the system vulnerable to damage. Parking on the drain field can crush the pipes your system depends on to eliminate liquid waste, which can cause backups or pools of sewage in your yard. To avoid messes and costly septic repairs, every homeowner should keep vehicles far away from their septic system.

Whether your system needs emergency septic repairs or just a routine cleaning, the experts at Tim Frank Septic Tank Cleaning have the expertise and experience to handle almost any situation. Their team of National Association of Wastewater Certified technicians has been serving homes and businesses throughout Geauga, Trumbull, and Ashtabula, OH, counties since 1966, using the most advanced techniques and equipment on the market. Visit their website for more on their septic repair services, or call (440) 636-5111 to schedule an inspection today.