One has to ask: is your septic system in any shape for what the Oregon weather will be like in the coming months? When did you or someone else last put eyes on the tank? Are you sure where your drain field is before the seasonal rains come down?
You would not be alone if such questions are a cause for concern. We get them from homeowners all over Greater Eugene this time of year at Loose Deuce Septic & Tank Services. As a family business we are licensed, insured and hold our Oregon DEQ certification. For anything in this guide, pick up the phone at (541) 652-8433 and we can talk you through it.
There is no better season than fall to tend to your septic. The summer has run its course but the wet of winter is still some way off. Most do not appreciate how much that window counts.
The Case for Attending to Your System in the Fall
With the rain that is part and parcel of an Eugene winter, you put a strain on your septic system. Saturated ground makes it difficult for the drain field to take in wastewater when the soil is already wet. Should a tank be behind on pumping, it will back up with more alacrity in those conditions; not something one wishes to contend with in December.
A bit of forethought will serve you well. Get the basics done prior to the onset of the rain and you can sidestep the kind of emergency that comes along when you least want it.
Your Fall Septic Checklist
Before the wet season sets in there are a few items to see to:
- Put in for a pumping if it has been three to five years, or you cannot recall
- Have an inspection done to nip small issues in the bud
- Make sure you can find your tank and drain field under the wet ground
- See to the basket filter and clean it as necessary
- Be on the lookout for gurgling, odors or drains that are slow to tell of trouble
- Do not let your gutters and downspouts run into the drain field
- Make allowances for heavy use by holiday visitors
Our crew can handle the likes of checking a filter or locating a tank for you, so there is no need to put in the work yourself. We will be glad to go over our findings.
What You Put in the Drain
Indoors you will be doing more cooking and entertaining in the cooler months, which is hard on the system. Grease left over from a holiday meal is prime among the offenders, hardening in the tank and pipes with time.
Do not put grease down the drain. The same holds true for wipes or paper towels, or anything purporting to be flushable that is not. The system will be the better for it.
Put Some Space Around the Drain Field
It is the job of the drain field to quietly return filtered water to the soil, and it should have room to do so. Do not park vehicles or equipment on it; compacted soil does not drain well once it starts to rain.
Should you see standing water, a soggy patch or grass that is too green over the field, make a call. Such things are a telltale in the early going of the wet season and easier to put right now than a failure down the line.
RVs and the Like
An RV being put away for the winter ought not to have a full holding tank through the cold. We do RV tank pumping and other services so it can be put to rest clean and you have no trouble in the spring.
We also provide hydro jetting for the stubborn stuff, porta potty rentals and commercial septic work. Whatever your situation is this fall we are likely able to accommodate.
Give Us a Ring
If the following present themselves, leave it to a pro:
- House-wide slow drains
- Any sewage smell in the yard or inside
- Water standing on the drain field
- An overdue tank
- An inspection for a sale
- A system you have never had examined
Since 2024 we have been of service to Eugene, Springfield, Cottage Grove, Junction City and the towns around. We are a young company but our DEQ certification and licensing speak for the quality of our work.
For a free estimate or to prepare your system ahead of the rain, we are here 24/7. Call (541) 652-8433.
