In many cases, you may never have a problem with your septic system freezing. The weather in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley typically being mild throughout the winter gives us this benefit. However, if you have had problems in the past or you’re worried about your septic tank freezing this winter, the tips below will help prevent your system from freezing.

If your tank is exposed, then you will need to cover it with mulch to provide insulation. This can come in the form of leaves, straw, hay or any other vegetative matter. However, if your system is already frozen, this step will not help you and will delay your system from thawing in the spring.

If you think your system is beginning to freeze, use warm water. Using low to normal usages of water will help prevent a frozen tank. Doing a load of laundry, running the dishwasher, or taking a shower are all preventative measures that you can take. Also, be sure you’re not running the water all day long as your system may become overloaded.

If you own a cabin, or another place where you visit sparingly, you may want to have your tank pumped before you leave to prevent the sewage from freezing. If you have a tank near a high water table, then only pump the tank if it was designed for high water table conditions. An alternative to pumping the tank is to have a neighbor or trusted friend come over and use a substantial amount of warm water regularly when you’re gone.

Before winter comes, be sure to fix any leaking plumbing fixtures and place heat tape on low flow pipes. Placing heat tape on these pipes will allow a friend or neighbor to come by and run warm water to keep your system warm.

Make sure all of your manholes or inspection pipes have covers on them. If you do not, then getting covers and insulating them is essential. This is especially true if your septic tank is within several feet of the surface.

Throughout the winter, always check to make sure your system is operating properly and no seeping is occurring. If you notice seeping occurring, contact a professional immediately to prevent further damage.

McRae’s septic tank service will come pump out your septic tank, diagnosis problems and repair any issues with your system. Serving Metro Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Delta, Surrey, Fraser Valley, Langley, Coquitlam, Aldergrove, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, and many other areas of British Columbia just give us a call at 604-856-8344.