I can tell you from first-hand experience that a kettle of boiling water doesn't work in New Hampshire. Typically, in the North Eastern United States, where it gets well below freezing in the winter... especially in January and February. If the Septic Tank is buried deep enough, it's not going to freeze as long as you keep using it. To be clear, most of the time, the water flowing into the tank is hot or at least warm because it's from taking showers or doing laundry and washing dishes. As a result, a Concrete Septic Tank can stay warm enough to prevent freezing. Not to mention, below the frost line, the temperature in the earth is constant or at least consistently above freezing. In New Hampshire, Septic Tanks are typically buried deep enough that the combination of dirt or earth over the tank, along with the snow, insulates it enough. With this in mind, it would require sub-zero temperatures for several days and nights in a row before the frost in the ground could freeze a Concrete Septic Tank. In all honesty, I've worked in the Septic and Sewer Industry for about 20 years, and the only time I've seen a Concrete Septic Tank freeze, is when the homeowner went away on vacation for a couple of weeks or more. For example, a trip to Florida in the dead of winter, with nobody staying home to wash dishes, take showers, flush the toilet, or do laundry. Obviously, it's possible a Septic Tank could freeze, but it's unlikely, and the conditions would have to be extremely cold for a prolonged period of time. As a Septic Professional who's lived in New Hampshire for almost 50 years, you'll probably never have to worry about this happening to you, because it's simply not a common problem, at least in my experience, but again, I'm in New Hampshire. So, to be fair, I suppose in other parts of the United States or even other parts of the world where it gets really cold, like artic cold, it could be a common problem, but not in the North East or New England States.
Thank you for the information, what about if property has been winterized. I'm in Wisconsin and buying a foreclosed property. It's been below freezing for a couple weeks there's a few feet of snow. There's no power at the property so no running well water and no heat. Is the winterization process protect the septic?
@katkameo6413 Good Morning Kat, I hope you had a Very Merry Christmas and since you're purchasing a new home, which is an exciting way to start 2023... Happy New Year! To answer your question, I'm going to tell you that here in New Hampshire, the winterization process is typically done on seasonal properties or vacant homes to prevent the pipes from freezing. I assume that in Wisconsin, it would be done for the same reason(s), but to be clear, it doesn't have anything to do with your Septic System... at least not in New Hampshire. If you've had several weeks of extremely cold temperatures and lots of snow out there in Wisconsin, I'd hope that the snow would help to insulate the Septic System so it probably isn't frozen. However, without any electricity or running water you can't do an inspection, so you'll have to take your chances and hope you don't have any problems. In the spring I would suggest you consider getting the system evaluated or inspected by a Licensed Septic Professional who can identify the type of Leaching Field you have and determine if any maintenance or repairs are needed. Obviously, it's virtually impossible to do anything this time of year, and the conditions you've described would probably not be conducive to successfully completing a thorough and complete examination of the system anyway. Again, in my opinion, have the system looked at in the spring... Alright?
@@craigwillson5974 Hi Craig, hopefully your Christmas was merry as well! Mine was wonderful :) I am closing on the property at the end of January. The type of loan requires inspections so it will have to be unwinterized, power turned on, sit two days, inspected and rewinterized, so they can test the well water, electrical, etc. There is no propane tank on property so I would need to get that going by the end of January unless they allow me to do it earlier. They have to inspect it to approve the loan and see which it qualifies for, a conventional or FHA 203k. We have no idea where the septic is located (pictures are either overgrown vegetation or deep in snow). The county has no records on file for the septic (house built 1940). Let's pretend I can get a conventional, have the electric, heat on...would the septic be usable (since it was prior to foreclosure 1 year ago) or would all this messing around with winterizing and all, mess things up? It's been -15 to zero for 2 weeks, now warming to the 30's this week. I plan on moving in right after closing :/ I'm ready to replace the whole system if needed and could easily wait till spring IF it's usable in the meantime. This is so much information to absorb. I've done a lot of research but starting from ground zero, never had septic or well before. Thank you for your time. I appreciate it more than you know!
@katkameo6413 Hey Kat, sorry for the delayed response, but I'm on vacation... I go to Florida to visit family and friends every winter. In any case, it's not surprising that you can't find or get any information regarding the Septic System for a property that was built over 80 years ago. Obviously, any house that was built that long ago doesn't conform or comply with today's standards. I run into this frequently in my state of New Hampshire, because we have lots of houses that are over 100 years old. In some cases, even 200 years old. As a result, I think it's safe to assume whatever type of system is buried in the yard is passed due for upgrading and modernization, but that's just my opinion, because that's what I would tell one of my customers in New Hampshire. Again, you can't do an inspection on a Septic System that's not in daily operation in the middle of winter. Especially when the house has been vacant for a year... I'd tell you that even in June, July, or August. It's virtually impossible to evaluate or determine the condition of a system that's not in use. As a result, I think it's a waste of time and money to even bother doing a Septic System Inspection, but that's just my opinion. Nevertheless, you could just try using it and see what happens... it might function normally?
www.septictank.co.uk/shop/septic-tank-soakaway-kits/
Best explanation on why the sewer pipe freezes up. Thank you!
Thanks
I can tell you from first-hand experience that a kettle of boiling water doesn't work in New Hampshire. Typically, in the North Eastern United States, where it gets well below freezing in the winter... especially in January and February. If the Septic Tank is buried deep enough, it's not going to freeze as long as you keep using it. To be clear, most of the time, the water flowing into the tank is hot or at least warm because it's from taking showers or doing laundry and washing dishes. As a result, a Concrete Septic Tank can stay warm enough to prevent freezing. Not to mention, below the frost line, the temperature in the earth is constant or at least consistently above freezing. In New Hampshire, Septic Tanks are typically buried deep enough that the combination of dirt or earth over the tank, along with the snow, insulates it enough. With this in mind, it would require sub-zero temperatures for several days and nights in a row before the frost in the ground could freeze a Concrete Septic Tank. In all honesty, I've worked in the Septic and Sewer Industry for about 20 years, and the only time I've seen a Concrete Septic Tank freeze, is when the homeowner went away on vacation for a couple of weeks or more. For example, a trip to Florida in the dead of winter, with nobody staying home to wash dishes, take showers, flush the toilet, or do laundry. Obviously, it's possible a Septic Tank could freeze, but it's unlikely, and the conditions would have to be extremely cold for a prolonged period of time. As a Septic Professional who's lived in New Hampshire for almost 50 years, you'll probably never have to worry about this happening to you, because it's simply not a common problem, at least in my experience, but again, I'm in New Hampshire. So, to be fair, I suppose in other parts of the United States or even other parts of the world where it gets really cold, like artic cold, it could be a common problem, but not in the North East or New England States.
Thank you, are they usually concrete? thinking of moving to the Midwest and worried about freezing
Thank you for the information, what about if property has been winterized. I'm in Wisconsin and buying a foreclosed property. It's been below freezing for a couple weeks there's a few feet of snow. There's no power at the property so no running well water and no heat. Is the winterization process protect the septic?
@katkameo6413 Good Morning Kat, I hope you had a Very Merry Christmas and since you're purchasing a new home, which is an exciting way to start 2023... Happy New Year! To answer your question, I'm going to tell you that here in New Hampshire, the winterization process is typically done on seasonal properties or vacant homes to prevent the pipes from freezing. I assume that in Wisconsin, it would be done for the same reason(s), but to be clear, it doesn't have anything to do with your Septic System... at least not in New Hampshire. If you've had several weeks of extremely cold temperatures and lots of snow out there in Wisconsin, I'd hope that the snow would help to insulate the Septic System so it probably isn't frozen. However, without any electricity or running water you can't do an inspection, so you'll have to take your chances and hope you don't have any problems. In the spring I would suggest you consider getting the system evaluated or inspected by a Licensed Septic Professional who can identify the type of Leaching Field you have and determine if any maintenance or repairs are needed. Obviously, it's virtually impossible to do anything this time of year, and the conditions you've described would probably not be conducive to successfully completing a thorough and complete examination of the system anyway. Again, in my opinion, have the system looked at in the spring... Alright?
@@craigwillson5974 Hi Craig, hopefully your Christmas was merry as well! Mine was wonderful :) I am closing on the property at the end of January. The type of loan requires inspections so it will have to be unwinterized, power turned on, sit two days, inspected and rewinterized, so they can test the well water, electrical, etc. There is no propane tank on property so I would need to get that going by the end of January unless they allow me to do it earlier. They have to inspect it to approve the loan and see which it qualifies for, a conventional or FHA 203k. We have no idea where the septic is located (pictures are either overgrown vegetation or deep in snow). The county has no records on file for the septic (house built 1940). Let's pretend I can get a conventional, have the electric, heat on...would the septic be usable (since it was prior to foreclosure 1 year ago) or would all this messing around with winterizing and all, mess things up? It's been -15 to zero for 2 weeks, now warming to the 30's this week. I plan on moving in right after closing :/ I'm ready to replace the whole system if needed and could easily wait till spring IF it's usable in the meantime. This is so much information to absorb. I've done a lot of research but starting from ground zero, never had septic or well before. Thank you for your time. I appreciate it more than you know!
@katkameo6413 Hey Kat, sorry for the delayed response, but I'm on vacation... I go to Florida to visit family and friends every winter. In any case, it's not surprising that you can't find or get any information regarding the Septic System for a property that was built over 80 years ago. Obviously, any house that was built that long ago doesn't conform or comply with today's standards. I run into this frequently in my state of New Hampshire, because we have lots of houses that are over 100 years old. In some cases, even 200 years old. As a result, I think it's safe to assume whatever type of system is buried in the yard is passed due for upgrading and modernization, but that's just my opinion, because that's what I would tell one of my customers in New Hampshire. Again, you can't do an inspection on a Septic System that's not in daily operation in the middle of winter. Especially when the house has been vacant for a year... I'd tell you that even in June, July, or August. It's virtually impossible to evaluate or determine the condition of a system that's not in use. As a result, I think it's a waste of time and money to even bother doing a Septic System Inspection, but that's just my opinion. Nevertheless, you could just try using it and see what happens... it might function normally?