It is the holidays and your home is once again a full house. You are cooking for a dozen or more and can’t help but question whether your plumbing is up to the task. And has there been a time when you had a backup at the inopportune moment of your dinner party?
You would be hard pressed to find someone in the greater Eugene area who has not been there. At Loose Deuce Septic & Tank Services we put our expertise to work for homeowners so their septic systems do not miss a beat, even in the year’s busiest weeks. (541) 652-8433 is the number to have on hand should you wish to have your tank looked at before the crowd comes calling.
Then there is the matter most overlook. The septic system in your home was put in to service your household, not your household and eight relatives all vying for the shower and dishwasher at the same time. A quiet, predictable load is what it is used to; the holidays are another story entirely.
Why Having Visitors Will Test Your Septic
The way a septic system is designed is to let solids settle and wastewater break down prior to going to the drain field. But with holiday guests putting a lot of water into the pipes, the tank cannot process it fast enough and that equilibrium is lost.
In point of fact, extra visitors will make themselves known in several ways:
- An increase in flushes and the attendant water and solids
- Showers and baths one after the other
- The kind of laundry and dishwasher use that comes with the cooking and cleaning
- Food scraps and grease overloading the garbage disposal
- Guests who may be inclined to put things down the drain they ought not to
- Double the demand on a tank that is probably due for a pumping
Put them all together and a tank at capacity will back up in your home. It is unfortunate how often this coincides with the one time you do not want it to.
More of an Issue in the Kitchen Than One Would Imagine
All those holiday meals put out no end of fat, grease and food waste. It is not as if it vanishes when it goes down the drain. The grease will cool and harden in the tank and pipes while food solids make for a thicker layer with time.
But you can sidestep the problem. Rinsing should come after you have put the plates in the trash. Let your cooking grease cool in a container for the rubbish. Be sparing with the garbage disposal; a city sewer connection is better suited to ground food waste than a septic system.
Preparation for When the Guests Come
Some forethought is warranted if you have a full house in prospect. There are some easy things to do:
- Do not run the washing machine and dishwasher in tandem
- Stagger any laundry and showers
- Have a trash can in the bathroom to deter the flushing of wipes and such
- Make note of the date of your last pumping
- Get an inspection if it has been some time
Should you be unable to recall when the tank was last seen to, consider it due. An inspection of your own accord is much less of an ordeal and expense than an emergency at dinnertime.
When the System Is Under Duress
A tank past its due will give you some indication under heavy use. Gurgling from the toilet or sink, slow drains, a sewage smell around the tank or water on the drain field are all cause for concern. In that event do not wait for it to worsen, get in touch with us.
Our Services
We are a family firm, locally run and licensed and insured with Oregon DEQ certification. From Eugene to Springfield, Cottage Grove, Junction City, Creswell, Veneta and Harrisburg, we serve the whole of the greater Eugene area. We are also on call 24/7, something of an advantage when a holiday backup occurs and the rest of the industry is shut.
For a pre-holiday check, a pumping or whatever you might need for the big meal, we are at your service. We will give you an estimate free of charge over the phone so there is no need to sit and wonder.
Make the call to Loose Deuce Septic & Tank Services at (541) 652-8433 and put your mind at ease about what is going on below ground.
