What Happens to Septic Tanks in Heavy Rain?

Very few people like it when it is raining outside, do they? However, one thing that we cannot control is the sky! What we can control, though, is our home maintenance routine, and it makes sense to adjust it based on the weather outside. This is something that we are going to address in this post.

After all, when Texas experiences heavy rainfall, one thing that can be affected is your septic system. There are two main things that can end up happening:

• Flooded drain field

• Backed up plumbing

It is common for a septic tank to back up after there has been heavy rainfall or even during the rainfall itself. A considerable amount of rain can cause the ground to flood quickly around the drain field (soil absorption area), which will result in it being saturated. This can make it impossible for the water to flow out of your septic tank system as it should.

When the water has nowhere to go, the water is going to eventually end up backing up into the drains and toilets within your home. This is, of course, something that no one wants to experience in their home!

A flood drain field can also result in untreated sewage flowing into the local streams and groundwater, which results in them being left at a considerable risk of environmental contamination. The good news, though, is that there are a number of different things that you can do to reduce the risk of this taking place.

What to do

One piece of advice that we have for you is to make sure that you direct runoff water away from the soakaway, ensuring that the soils that surround the area are prevented from getting more soggy. Make sure that your rain gutters are kept clear of any debris, and that your gutters will drain away from the soakaway area so that the potential for damage can be reduced considerably.

If you anticipate that there has been some damage to your septic tank system or should the water over your soakaway to recede once the rain has stopped, the best thing to do is get in touch with a professional company so that they can professionally inspect and service your septic tank. If there is debris and silt that has gotten inside of the septic tank, make sure that you get in touch with professionals so that they can pump the system as quickly as possible.

How to prep

One of the best things that you can do is make sure that your septic system is in excellent shape before the rain starts to pour. Septic issues can get worse if your septic tank must be pumped and you have not been maintaining it properly.

So there you have it: an insight into septic tanks and how they can be impacted when the rain falls here in Texas. Septic tank flooding TX is not uncommon, so with the right maintenance and preventative efforts, you can make a massive difference.