MASON CITY – The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health and area septic system contractors have seen an increase in freezing septic systems due to a very cold winter and frost running deep into the ground.
Rural residents using a septic system should not run water to keep water lines open if the discharge is going into the septic system. A constant addition of water into a septic system can cause the system to freeze up which will lead to back-ups into the home. Rural residences should find an alternative way to keep water lines flowing.
“Lots of communities are having trouble with freezing water lines, which is a fairly new issue for the larger systems,” said Mark Mathre, Environmental Health Specialist, Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health. “The easy fix is to tell people it’s a good idea to let the water drip. That is one of the worst ideas for a septic system because it really increases the risk of freeze up.”
Here are additional tips to help prevent septic system freezing:
- No drips – don’t let your water run if using septic system
- Be sure to fix all dripping fixtures (faucets, toilets)
- Heaters – use an immersion type tank heater to help keep the tank unfrozen (commonly called stock tank heater)
- Caution – condensation discharge from high efficiency furnaces can contribute if connected to the septic system
- Pile snow or use cover over the top of septic tank
If you are having freezing issues, please contact a certified septic system installer.
