Hosting for Labor Day? Make Sure Your Septic System Is Ready Too

Labor Day weekend is one of those weekends when the house suddenly gets a lot busier. Family comes over, friends stop by, the grill stays hot, kids run in and out, and the bathrooms get a whole lot more traffic than usual.

And while you’re thinking about burgers, drinks, and whether you have enough chairs, there’s one thing you probably aren’t thinking about:

Your septic system.

Unfortunately, it may be working harder than anyone else at the party.

Now Is the Time to Schedule a Septic Pump

If your septic tank is due to be pumped, don’t wait until after Labor Day weekend.

A tank that is already getting full may handle your family’s normal daily use without obvious problems. Add a house full of guests, extra showers, more dishes, additional laundry, and dozens of extra toilet flushes, and that system can quickly become overwhelmed.

And a septic backup is a pretty terrible way to end a cookout.

If it has been several years since your last pump, you can’t remember when it was last serviced, or you’ve recently noticed changes in your system, schedule your pump job before the holiday weekend.

Watch for Warning Signs

Your septic system will often give you some indication that something isn’t right. Pay attention if you notice:

• Drains moving more slowly than usual
• Toilets gurgling or struggling to flush
• Unpleasant sewage odors inside or outside
• Standing water or unusually soggy areas around the drain field
• Multiple drains in the house backing up at the same time

Don’t wait for a small warning sign to become a much bigger and messier problem.

Give Your Septic System a Break While You’re Hosting

Even a healthy septic system can benefit from a little common sense when you have extra guests.

Spread out water usage. Avoid running several loads of laundry while everyone is showering and the dishwasher is going.

Keep wipes out of the toilet. Even products labeled “flushable” can create problems. Toilet paper and human waste are what belong down there.

Keep grease out of the kitchen drain. Labor Day cooking can produce plenty of fats, oils, grease, and food scraps. Put them in the trash instead of sending them into your septic system.

Stagger showers when possible. A little space between heavy water use gives your system time to process what’s coming in.

Most importantly, don’t ignore a septic system that is already showing signs of trouble just because you’re hoping it will make it through the weekend.

Get Ahead of the Holiday Rush

A little preventative maintenance is much easier than dealing with an overflowing tank or backed-up bathroom when your driveway is full of cars and your backyard is full of guests.

If your septic tank is due for service, now is the time to get your pump job on the schedule before Labor Day weekend.

Then you can focus on the important stuff: good food, good people, and enjoying the last long weekend of summer.

Elitte Septic Tank & Grease Trap Service
📞 615-504-7178

When things get dirty, Call the Doo Doo Gurus!