Will My Septic System Work Without Power?

This can be a scary thought - the power goes out...will I be able to use my toilet?

This question depends on one thing - is your septic system a pressurized system or is it a gravity system?

If you have a pressurized system (without a backup generator), then, if the power goes out, your septic system will not work. This is because you have a pump tank that is sending effluent to your septic field through the use of an effluent pump that runs off electricity.

If you have a gravity field (usually older systems) then you can absolutely use your septic system if the power goes out. This is because the system is using a gentle slope to send effluent to your septic field. To learn the difference between systems, read this.

We highly recommend anyone that is living in a home with a pressurized septic system to have a backup generator either big enough to power their entire home, or at least their septic pump. By doing this, you will have no worries if the power goes out for multiple days. You will be able to use all appliances as normal and not have to worry about your septic tanks filling up and potentially backing up into your home. With that being said, if the power does go out and you do not have a generator for your septic pump, you are able to use your septic system for a short period of time as it will have some room to hold more sewage entering from the home. How much exactly? That will depend on how full your tank is / how big your pump chamber is. If the power goes out for extended periods of time, you may want to have your septic tanks pumped to ensure you can still use them until the power comes back on.