Social distancing requires that families stay home from work and school, which can be a significant change of routine. While this undoubtedly has an effect on your daily dynamic, it can also have an impact on your septic system. Here’s what you need to know to minimize strain on your system and avoid dealing with unexpected problems.

How Does Staying at Home Impact Your Septic Tank?

1. Increased Wear on the System

Much like septic systems work overtime when you host guests during the holiday season, a similar principle applies when everyone remains home for an extended period of time. There’s a lot that happens during the course of the day in an average household: people take showers, prepare meals, do laundry, and flush toilets.

Using your taps and fixtures more can take a significant toll on the plumbing, and that kind of sudden and unexpected strain can cause premature pipe or fitting failures that lead to leaks.

2. More Frequent Usage Daily

The size of a septic tank is based on the home’s square footage and how many people reside there. However, how much water each person uses will also impact what the tank can handle at a given time.

With people home all day, your household’s usage is likely increased, which means your tank is likely to fill more quickly and likely require pumping sooner than you expected.

3. Water-Based Appliance Usage

There are several large appliances in your home that use a significant amount of water. When fewer people are home, there is less strain put on the septic system as a result of regularly running washing machines and dishwashers, using showers, and turning on sinks. Each of these devices or fixtures can send several gallons per minute or cycle to your septic tank.

The more water that’s used, the more likely that the tank will become overwhelmed with incoming wastewater. This could potentially disrupt the treatment process, and in some cases, it may prevent it entirely. When that occurs, solid waste can be forced out of the tank and cause damaging clogs in the drain field.

 

You need a company that you can trust to handle your septic system concerns. Count on the qualified team at Septic Pumping Service in Matthews, NC, to assist with your needs. If you notice that your drains are slower, it may be time to schedule a pumping service. The family-owned company is ready to help, and are proud to offer 24-hour emergency septic repairs. Visit them online to find out more or call (704) 226-6904 to schedule an appointment.