The surge in people spending more time at home during the pandemic is taking its toll on septic systems.From clogs to pumpings and repairs, Rowell’s Services in Northfield is getting call after call. “People aren’t going out to dinner as much, so they’re cooking more. They’re not being quite as careful with grease going down their drain lines. (They’re) using more toilet paper,” said Mandie Hagan, co-owner of Rowell’s Services.Maznek Septic Service in Bedford said business has doubled during the pandemic, and crews are working 12-and 14-hour days. “We’ve been busy, and so have all our competitors,” said co-owner Larry Maznek.It’s been so busy that Maznek has had to turn customers away, especially in the first few months of the pandemic.“They’d be calling us. We’d say why don’t you try so and so. ‘Well, we already tried them. They told us come to you.’ It was almost like a ping pong ball,” Maznek said.Some advice for homeowners to stress on their system?“Don’t use flushable wipes. They say they’re flushable; they market them. It’s a marketing scam. They’re not flushable. Don’t flush them down your toilet. They don’t break down into your septic tanks,” said Hagan.Antibacterial soap and sanitizer can also cause issues.“That was getting in with the septic systems and finding its way to the leach fields, where we need bacteria to clean the pathogens,” said Maznek.They also said it’s important for homeowners to get their septic tank pumped every two to three years.
The surge in people spending more time at home during the pandemic is taking its toll on septic systems.
From clogs to pumpings and repairs, Rowell’s Services in Northfield is getting call after call.
“People aren’t going out to dinner as much, so they’re cooking more. They’re not being quite as careful with grease going down their drain lines. (They’re) using more toilet paper,” said Mandie Hagan, co-owner of Rowell’s Services.
Maznek Septic Service in Bedford said business has doubled during the pandemic, and crews are working 12-and 14-hour days.
“We’ve been busy, and so have all our competitors,” said co-owner Larry Maznek.
It’s been so busy that Maznek has had to turn customers away, especially in the first few months of the pandemic.
“They’d be calling us. We’d say why don’t you try so and so. ‘Well, we already tried them. They told us come to you.’ It was almost like a ping pong ball,” Maznek said.
Some advice for homeowners to stress on their system?
“Don’t use flushable wipes. They say they’re flushable; they market them. It’s a marketing scam. They’re not flushable. Don’t flush them down your toilet. They don’t break down into your septic tanks,” said Hagan.
Antibacterial soap and sanitizer can also cause issues.
“That was getting in with the septic systems and finding its way to the leach fields, where we need bacteria to clean the pathogens,” said Maznek.
They also said it’s important for homeowners to get their septic tank pumped every two to three years.
