Will My Septic System Work During a Power Outage?

In short – yes, the septic system itself will continue to function during a power outage. The tank will continue to collect wastewater. However, unless you have a gravity system, which doesn’t use a pump at all, it’s important to remember that your pump will not work. Your septic system relies on the pump to move wastewater into the drain field, but without power, the pump won’t work; this means that the wastewater will be held in the tank until the power comes back.

Your septic system is more fragile than you’d think. Fortunately, the Puget Sound Septic team is here to help with any issues you might face.

Can I Flush My Toilet During a Power Outage?

During a power outage, you can continue to use your plumbing fixtures – but you should be very mindful of how much you use them. Overusing your septic system while it’s incapable of draining can lead to sewage backups. 

A sewage backup constitutes a plumbing emergency, which Puget Sound Septic can handle 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you’re dealing with a backed-up plumbing system, don’t hesitate to call us right away.

How Long Will My Septic Tank Work Without Power?

This depends on the capacity of your septic tank and the number of people using it. Your tank will likely have some empty space left over in case of an outage, but it goes faster than you might think.

Conserving Water During a Power Outage

During a power outage, it’s important to be mindful of how much water you use, even if your fixtures are still working. Here are a few tips for avoiding a sewage backup during an outage:

• Avoid showering if possible; take short showers if not.
• Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth.
• Flush the toilet sparingly.

When the Power Comes Back On…

Your septic tank might struggle to deal with an influx of wastewater after the power comes back. There are two primary types of septic pumps – timer-based and “on-demand” systems. Both systems will need a little help following a power outage, and they need to be treated differently. If you’re not sure which type of pump you have, our team can help.

• Timer-based pumps, as the name implies, drain at regular intervals based on a timer. The timer may reset following a power outage, meaning you should continue to conserve water for the next day or so to allow the timer to catch up.
• On-demand pumps drain to the drainfield based on the amount of wastewater in the tank. Since it can’t drain during a power outage, the pump may let out too much at once when the power returns. This can damage the drain field. To avoid this, manually turn your pump on for two minutes, and then leave it turned off for 4-6 hours. This process is called “dosing.” Continue dosing the drain field until the pump turns off automatically.

Count on Puget Sound Septic for Quality Septic Care in King County WA

Since 2023, the Puget Sound Septic team has been helping homeowners all over King County WA handle septic issues of all kinds.