Can My Septic System Freeze?

You live in New England, which means that, as much as you hate to admit it, winter is still ramping up. We haven’t even had that miserable time of the year when the thermostat doesn’t want to budge much above 0 degrees.

Worse yet, many New Englanders live in rural areas. While we prize our land on the quiet it affords us, it often means we are without city sewer and must rely on a septic tank. With that said, you might be wondering: can my septic system freeze? We’re here to answer that question.

The Short Answer is Yes

While much of your septic system is buried far enough underground to avoid freezing, there are a few components that have to be above ground, or close above ground, and are unfortunately threatened by freezing weather:

• Plumbing from your house to the tank
• Plumbing from your tank to the drain field
• The drain field

In rare cases, the tank itself could freeze, but that is rare. Assuming your tank has been buried far enough below ground it should avoid freezing temperatures, although we’ve seen tanks freeze due to underuse in the winter months.

The Signs of a Frozen Septic System

• Toilets won’t flush
• Drains won’t drain

That’s about it—a frozen septic system is exactly like a clogged one, which means water has nowhere to drain. If your drains and toilets are all slow at the same time in the middle of winter, then that might mean your system is in the process of freezing and needs to be checked out.

The Potential Causes of a Frozen Septic System

A frozen septic system is much like regular frozen plumbing in the middle of a subzero winter. Pipes that can’t keep their temperature above freezing will eventually freeze—it’s that simple. However, here are a few other ways your septic system could fail you in the middle of winter:

• Plumbing isn’t insulated enough to keep it from freezing
• Plumbing is underused
• Soil around the tank is too compacted, losing its insulating properties, causing your tank to freeze
• A leaky toilet sends a constant, small supply of water through your system which is just slow enough to freeze

What You Can Do if Your Septic System Freezes

It might seem obvious to try and run hot water through your pipes or try some other DIY solution to unfreeze your septic system. However, we recommend against trying to do it yourself. Instead, call us to inspect and diagnose your problem, and we’ll ensure that, by the time we leave, your septic system will be flowing again. The worst thing you want to do is try to do it yourself and crack a pipe or, worse yet, damage your tank.

Are you in need of septic service? Whether it’s an emergency like a frozen system or a simple checkup, we’re here to help. Reach out to us today.