Ah, the magic of the holidays. The picture-perfect time to host family and friends for home-cooked meals, gift-giving, and get-togethers. Even just imagining it feels comforting. Dinner cooked. Table set. Family ready. Guests arriving. And then, disaster: an epic septic problem.
Yep, The Grinch can strike your septic system at the most inconvenient times, and the holiday season is a major contender. It’s when your system can be under the most stress…causing you to panic, as well. But don’t fret yet. As with a bustling holiday schedule, planning ahead can reduce the risk of a festive fiasco.
Holiday Septic Strain
The more, the merrier—except when it comes to your pipes. When more people are using your house’s amenities (flushing, showering, dishwashing, or laundering), your system has more thrown at it. The kitchen can be a particular culprit. With big meal prep come fats, oils, and grease that can make their way into your system. Plus (winter being winter), cold weather can slow drainage, making problems even worse.
Grinch-Like Septic Symptoms
Exactly how bad could these problems be? None are good, but you certainly won’t want to welcome foul odors into your house for the holidays (especially right when guests arrive). Slow drains and sewage backups make bathroom and kitchen usage undoable at best—and a holiday home flood at worst. Clogged or frozen pipes (whether from extra use or winter conditions) can also put a major halt to your plans (and cut into your holiday budget, if damage is involved). And an overloaded septic tank could cause all-out system failure.
Warning Signs to Watch For (Ideally Before Guests Arrive)
Don’t let The Grinch take your septic system by surprise. Keep tabs on sounds, smells, and statuses throughout your household for advance notice of a holiday ruiner in your midst. Don’t ignore gurgling toilets or drains, standing water or soggy spots in your yard, sewage smells inside or outside, or slow-flushing toilets. All are strong indicators that your septic system is struggling (and—without intervention—will only get worse).
Septic Grinch Prevention
Taking proactive steps can save the (holi)day for you, your family, and your guests alike. Before things kick into high gear, schedule a pre-holiday septic pumping or inspection. Even if you don’t feel the jolliest doing so, remind family and guests not to flush Grinch-y items like wipes, grease, paper towels, and feminine products. Alternate laundry and dishwasher use, instead of running everything at once. And (as always), keep drains clear of cooking grease and scraps.
What to Do If the Grinch Strikes Anyway
If The Grinch comes to call (even with your best preventative efforts), don’t be a holiday hero. Call a professional right away. DIY’ing a septic emergency won’t help anyone. What you can yourself do is limit water use until help arrives, plus keep guests comfy by having a backup plan, like a portable bathroom rental if necessary.
As scary as The Grinch can be, don’t let septic problems steal your holiday spirit. With the right preparation, your system will stay on Santa’s ‘nice’ list, and home will be the perfect holiday destination.
Wind River Environmental delivers 24/7 emergency septic and drain services, responding quickly to backups, blockages, and system failures when you need help most. Contact Us.
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