Leaving house with septic system over winter

GomerPile wrote:
Septic will not freeze. There is active bacteria in there which raises the temp and the ground is typically 55 degrees. Worst case a crust of ice might form which is not a big deal. The leach field is below the frost line.

the snow melts over my tank.
bumpy

As I stated before, this is a rare case when it does happen. If you wanted to be extra safe while away, you could find out who uses steam (and the price) to thaw out a frozen septic system in your area prior to leaving. Then you would have that number handy if something ever did happen and your houseguest gave you a call with the unpleasant news.

Yes, septic tanks can and do freeze, but having said that, it should be fine if someone is staying there.

It mostly has to do with how long a cold snap lasts and what's over the sewer line or tank for covering. In winters when a cold snap hits early in the year and there hasn't been a decent amount of snow to insulate the ground before the cold gets to far down in the ground is when there's problems. I've seen a lot of city water pipes and piping to fire hydrants piping freeze when this happens. For those that don't know, the water is not up in the hydrant itself. There's a valve down about ten feet deep where the hydrant pipe tees off of the main water line.

Sewer lines often freeze when someone leaves a faucet dribbling water. What happens is the dribble cools off to the point that it freezes before it reaches the tank. When you take a shower, do wash, flush a toilet, etc it put a bigger slug of water down the pipe all at once that will reach the tank before it freezes. The slug of water also warms up the pipe enough for the last of the water also makes it to the tank before it freezes.

Never had a frozen line or tank myself, but I've helped thaw a few.

Bill

Last 10 winters away in MN, no problems but then we don't come back until late April or May so if it froze it would be thawed by then.

You have an extreme cold question, and yes your septic can freeze. It takes a special condition which is extreme cold with no snow cover early in the winter. This will drive the frost further down into the ground then in most years.

Many in Northern MN will place a foot of hay over their septic system. This will take the place of snow for insulation. Once it snows then no problems.

Ask the neighbors.

:) :) and from experience, no, it will not freeze. We have septic....our temps went down to 40 BELOW last winter......:) Because we'd left the heat on at 50 deg (and paid for that, too), and blew out our sprinkler system, pond/waterfall lines and emptied the water heater, we had no problems except one. We had a $.37 part on the sprinkler head break. :) :)

Septic will not freeze. There is active bacteria in there which raises the temp and the ground is typically 55 degrees. Worst case a crust of ice might form which is not a big deal. The leach field is below the frost line.

If you are leaving the house unheated you need to winterize just like an rv with a few twists.

+ add antifreeze to all traps (sinks, showers laundry etc)
+ drain the well tank and leave the valve open
+ drain all the pipes in the house and leave the faucets open
+ open the outside faucets too.
+ Power off and drain the hot water heater, if tankless you need to blast some air thru it to remove the water in the exchanger
+ drain toilet tanks and add antifreeze to the bowl
+ check the pantry and remove any bottles or cans that will freeze....think soda!
+ If you have any water filtration devices, these need to be empty or close to empty remove the sediment filter because water gets trapped in there and can burst

My understanding (we have a septic system) is that it is not a closed system...thus, any freezing will have room for expansion and will not damage anything.

But as stated, if properly installed per your local codes, it should be able to withstand your local climate.

Note sure what leaving the heat on in the house has to do with a septic system??

Im a plumber and per code the septic should be installed below the frost line for your area per local and state codes...

No worries from what I know....