Many people don't think about how their septic tanks are affected during hurricanes, but all of the rain that can go along with these storms can have an impact. These are a few tips for septic tank owners to keep in mind after hurricanes pass through their areas.

1. Minimize Use of Your Septic Tank

First, during and after a hurricane, you'll want to minimize use of your septic tank. Using your septic tank too much during periods of heavy rain can put too much strain on it. Until the rain dies down and any floodwaters start to recede, try to be more mindful of the water that is being used in your home. For example, avoid using your washing machine, and take shorter showers.

2. Have Your Septic Tank Pumped After the Storm

Once the rain slows down and some of the rainwater has receded, your septic tank might be able to catch back up and start working properly again. However, if your septic tank was already fairly full or if your area had a lot of flooding, then you might have to have your septic tank pumped. Of course, you'll need to wait until it's safe for someone to come out and do so, but it's not a bad idea to call and schedule an appointment to have your septic tank pumped as soon as you can after the storm passes.

3. Be Careful About Water Quality if You Have a Well

You might have heard of people being under boil advisories after hurricanes. Basically, what this means is that people are encouraged to boil their water before they drink it or use it for cooking. This helps kill any dangerous bacteria in contaminated water. If you have well water, then you will not have anyone letting you know if your water is safe to drink or not after the storm, so you'll have to watch out for yourself.

If you have a septic tank and a well, there is the possibility that your septic tank could become overfilled, which can lead to sewage leaking out into your yard. This could contaminate the water that comes from your well. You'll definitely want to keep a close eye on the water quality. You may want to use bottled water instead of your well water right after the storm, and you'll probably want to have your well water tested to make sure that it's safe.

For more help, get in touch with a business like American Septic Service.