A slowly leaking toilet or dripping tap might not seem like a septic problem. But on a cold night, that steady trickle can freeze in the buried pipe before it reaches the tank, building an ‘iceberg’ that grows until nothing gets through.
“This can happen overnight and be quite the surprise in the morning when no water goes down the drain!” said Tyrell Griffith of Ty-Gr Tanker. Griffith has spent more than a decade pumping and servicing septic systems, starting in the Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls area in 2013 and now working across the Rainy River District from his base in Devlin. The best fix, he said, is high-pressure hot-water jetting to clear the ice, then tracking down the leak.
Many homes and camps in the Rainy River District rely on septic systems, but the majority of us only think about them when something fails. That’s one of the most common mistakes homeowners make, according to Bill Goodale, president of the Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association (OOWA). He likens it to skipping oil changes on a vehicle: “You might not notice a problem right away, but eventually the lack of maintenance can catch up with you.”
New homeowners should start by learning the basics, Goodale said: the tank’s size and type, where the tank and leaching bed are, the system’s design and when it was last pumped or inspected. If records are missing or its condition is unknown, he recommends an inspection.
The biggest misconception the team at Ty-Gr Tanker hears is that a septic tank never needs pumping. Regular pumping extends the life of the leaching bed, or field, he said, and a clog in the tank is better than one in the field, which can mean expensive repairs or replacing the field.
Griffith and Goodale both put the ideal service interval at three to five years, depending on household size and habits and the system’s size and design.
Plugged lines, usually right at the tank, are the most common problem Griffith sees. Many newer systems have an effluent filter, and some homeowners don’t realize it requires cleaning, often once a year, between pump-outs. “Cleaning it is gross, but a simple process of opening the effluent side of the tank, removing the filter from the pipe, rinsing it off and reinstalling it,” he said.
A good rule of thumb is that only the three P’s should be flushed: pee, poop and paper. That rules out wipes (even those labelled flushable), feminine products and tissues. Grease and cooking oil belong in the garbage, not the sink, while chemicals and harsh cleaners can harm the bacteria a system relies on.
The leaching bed needs protecting too. Griffith has seen lines crushed by parking and other traffic, and tree roots growing in through loose rubber couplings. Goodale advises keeping trees well away and says compacted soil limits the oxygen needed for treatment, which is also why a bed shouldn’t be covered with clay during landscaping. Roof and surface water should drain elsewhere.
When asked what the single most common thing is to go wrong with septic systems in the area over winter, Griffith pointed to frozen lines. Insulating the field with hay or tarps helps, especially in low-snow years, and keeping foot traffic, vehicles and snowmobiles off it prevents frost from being driven into the lines.
Warm water from showers and dishes helps prevent freezing, so his frozen-line calls climb after the holidays and whenever owners have been away. Goodale also recommends winterizing the plumbing and sewage system at seasonal camps.
In response to a 2025 Ontario coroner’s review on septic safety, OOWA made lid safety a focus of its Septic Awareness Week. “Damaged, unsecured, or improperly maintained septic lids can pose serious risks to children, pets, and others who may come into contact with them,” OOWA executive director Kelly Andrews said in a release.
Griffith said most lids he sees are well secured, since no one wants to fall in, but they can deteriorate over the years and should be repaired or replaced promptly. Goodale added that a tank opening should never be left exposed.
Goodale said odours, slow drains, wet patches, surfacing sewage or unusually lush grass around the leaching bed can all signal trouble and should be checked by a professional. A rotten-egg smell can point to hydrogen sulphide gas, which under the right conditions can turn into sulphuric acid and gradually eat away at a concrete tank.
More guides, videos and downloadable materials are available at www.oowa.org/homeowner-resources.
As Goodale put it in OOWA’s release, “knowledge only makes a difference when it leads to action.”
