How to Prepare Your Septic System for a Hurricane

Preparing for a hurricane is the difference between thousands of dollars in repair costs and a fully functioning septic system, uninterrupted by storm damage. By following septic best practices, you ensure your septic system’s safety through even the worst storms. Many septic owners know how to prepare their homes for a hurricane, but they often forget that septic inspections are necessary for ensuring little to no downtime after a storm.

By following these tips and consulting your local septic service provider, you’ll save time, money, and stress when preparing for a hurricane.

Preparing Your Septic System for a Hurricane

A septic inspection is going to be your go-to for protecting your septic system. While most areas have a difference between a paid inspection to meet regulations and requirements that is usually part of selling a home, and a normal inspection that includes cameras to review and inspect all segments of your septic system.  If you don’t need all that documentation, these may be more than you need.  

Septic experts are able to diagnose and recommend a plan for treating, protecting, and servicing your specific septic system that should be included in most pumping services. Septic systems differ in location, size, and even material, but your service technician should be able to walk you through the components of the system and talk to their condition. If you’re unsure about the specifics of your system or the service history of your tank, it’s the safest option to contact your septic service provider and schedule a formal inspection. 

What Does a Septic Inspection Entail? 

Depending on your specific needs, your inspection might look different than a homeowner in a different state, but most inspections have many similarities. The septic service providers in your state are experts in the protections needed for local weather, especially storms as intense as a hurricane. 

Preparing your system for hurricane season is something these experts are ready for. They’re knowledgeable in local septic regulations and experienced in your state’s weather, with countless septic systems protected every year. 

One of the first steps is to schedule a septic tank pumping and work with your provider to ensure that solids are no more than ⅓ of the volume on the tank and there are no more than 3-6 inches of floating solids at the top. It’s also important to understand the condition of the components including the solids deflection device, alarm float, distribution box, filters, pumps, baffles, or lids. Ask about any backflow or the pitch of the pipe for the drainfield that may have settled and created issues since your last service.

Filling your tank with water before the hurricane hits helps avoid damage or floating risks, so coordinate this with your provider. As part of your inspection, ask about the environment the tank is in, including information about the landscaping, soils, and trees. Ask them about any signs of issues with drainage or stormwater flow issues around the tank and drain field.

Your service provider should also ensure there’s reliable, waterproof power to all pumps, no issues with the wires carrying that power, and/or ensure a back-up source for all pumps (especially the lift stations) in case the power goes out.  Those pumps are vital to keeping your family safe inside while the storm rages outside.

Want to know what your septic system inspection specifically covers? Contact Wind River Environmental for more information.

Yard Preparations

After an inspection, the septic experts equip you with the knowledge of where the most important parts of your septic system are located. This information makes it easier to prepare your yard and, in turn, protect what is found under the ground. Preparation including contacting local tree removal or cutting services allows you the peace of mind to know that if a tree goes down, it won’t interfere with your septic service.

Along the same lines, you may want to ask the service provider to show you where those components are to protect them during any clean-up efforts after the storm.  Major damage occurs when utility workers and public service employees access areas to repair downed trees or other utilities, and the heavy machinery either damages or destroys components of your system.  If you know where these components are, you can require the workers to avoid those areas in order to perform their clean up efforts.

A lack of preparation often leads to a financial burden. A crushed or punctured septic line is costly and requires repairs to bring your system back to working normally. The cost of a full replacement due to a storm is exponentially higher than the costs related to properly preparing for a hurricane.  If you also have damage that is caused by clean-up efforts, you may risk bearing the entire burden on your own as lawsuits and other financial recovery efforts are usually measured in years rather than days.

Prepare with Wind River Environmental

With septic services in over 16 states, Wind River Environmental is here to protect your home and septic system during hurricane season.

Our expert technicians are here to keep your septic system safe and running as efficiently as possible. Sign up on our website to schedule any services – or call us at 1-800-499-1682. If you have any questions about keeping your seasonal property’s septic system healthy, don’t hesitate to contact us today!