SEPTIC SYSTEMS CAN FREEZE!

Septic systems may freeze as early as November or December if a good cold snap comes along.

Residents have left for only 2 weeks and come back to a frozen line into the tank.

This primarily happens to the part time cabins/homes.  The full time residents rarely encounter this problem. Reasons being:

Full time homes have a constant supply of warm fluid coming into the tank.

More biological matter for bacteria to digest which does produce some heat.

The constant supply of warm fluid keeps the liquid in the tank moving.

A couple of solutions to keep tanks from freezing:

Many people install floating cattle tank heaters with concrete guards.  This is a more permanent solution you leave in and either plug in or have hard wired to the breaker box.  Many people also pull these out in the summer.

Another solution is to hang a bulb in each side of the tank.  A heat lamp or long life higher wattage bulb are some options.  One draw back to this solution, How do you know if the bulb is still working?  That is why many eventually switch to the first solution.

MAKE SURE YOUR TOILET IS ADJUSTED PROPERLY!!  A very slow water supply will cause ice to freeze in the line & not in the tank.  Check not only your toilet but any faucet/water supply.

Floating cattle tank heaters can be purchased at many feed/supply stores. They may or may not be available at major Hardware/Lumber supply stores.