Co-Owner · September 9, 2025
The time of year we've all been waiting for is here: football!
There’s nothing better than the promise of terrific plays, last-second touchdowns, and football finger foods.
Nachos, wings, cheese dip, hamburgers, and more.
It’s like you're on cloud 9, until all that grease and food waste ends up in the wrong place. There’s nothing worse than your hunger writing a check your septic system can’t cash.
With a few thoughtful game-day decisions for food, you can keep your system running worry free, without slowly adding strain over the course of football seasons.
Why football season can mean trouble
If your Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are dominated by football, chances are your home is seeing a lot more game day crowds and delicious comfort foods this time of year.
Most game day foods have two big offenders for septic health: grease and scraps.
- Grease is the classic one: everyone knows it solidifies after it cools, and it could cause problems faster than you realize, even if it is ‘just a little grease’ down the sink.
- Food scraps. Bones, cheese chunks, and thick tortilla pieces don't break down in your septic tank as well as you'd think. They just add to the solid layer that has to get pumped out eventually.
Septic Yellow Flags
Here are the most common food-related mistakes we see during football season
- Pouring grease down the sink: even small amounts
- Treating the Garbage Disposal as a trash can. It only makes scraps smaller: not septic safe
- Flushing paper towels and napkins.
Game-Day Septic Tips
While a full spread of wings, nachos, and chili can make you the MVP in the eyes of your friends and family, your real MVP this season will be your septic tank.
With a little prep and a few good habits, you can enjoy the game without worrying about a ‘septic fumble’
- Set up a trash station:
- Put a visible trash can where people will be eating and snacking.
- Use Disposable Table wear:
- Compostable paper plates are a win-win. Good for the environment, and you don’t have to spend time washing dishes when you should be getting ready for Sunday (or Monday) activities
- Scrape Plates into the Garbage:
- If you use your own dishes, scrape the food into the trash before you rinse them. If you've got 10-15 plates to wash, those tortilla chip crumbs and globs of cheese dip add up quick.
A little planning is a major win after the final score, it means far less time in the kitchen, and far more time debriefing after the final whistle.
DIY checks before you call us
While backyard flag football is fun, there’s a reason why you turn on the big game: it’s fun to watch the pros work it out.
The same can be said about septic tanks. Much like backyard football, handing off repair work to a cousin usually results in a fumble and everyone slipping and sliding in mud.
At least with the football, the mud doesn’t smell as bad. Usually.
Metaphors aside, here's what to watch for during football season:
- Slow drains: if your sink or toilets drain slower than usual, it could be under strain.
- Foul odors: smells near your tank or drain field aren’t just unpleasant, but a clear indicator the waste isn’t moving through properly
- Wet Spots/Standing water: Drain Field puddles are a surefire sign that your system is overloaded or not draining correctly
Spotting these early gives you the chance to take action before a small issue becomes a larger one.
The only thing you should be worrying about is how your team is going to pull themselves out of the losing streak they tend to find themselves in.
Why pumping pays off
Now that you know what to look for, you can call the right play: get that tank pumped!
Pumping often has many benefits, especially if it’s been a few years:
- It prevents backups during peak usage
- It extends the life of your system
- You won't have to worry about it.