Qubo Losprivate-house sewage without surprises

An independent guide to private-house sewage. Not a manufacturer, seller or installer, and not affiliated with the QUBO brand or the former site on this domain; design and installation are done by professionals.

Guides

Practical guides

The first article in this section is about winter, the season when an off-grid sewage system gives you the most reasons to worry. The steps below suit both those who leave until spring and those who live in the house all year. Still, take the specific actions for your system from its manual and confirm them with your service company.

In winter a system rarely breaks down out of the blue. Usually it just reminds you of what was put off in the autumn: the truck was not booked, the lid was not checked, nobody asked the service company about shutting down. That is why the best preparation for the cold starts a few weeks before it arrives.

— Editor's note

What to have ready

  • The documentation and manual for your system, on paper or in digital form
  • Contact details for a service company and a pump-out service that work in your area
  • Records of past pump-outs and service visits, if you have kept them
  • A plan of the property showing where the pipes run and where the manholes are
  • A clear idea of whether you will live in the house over winter or leave until spring

  1. Decide on the winter mode

    Every later step depends on whether the house will be occupied. A system in constant use usually keeps running as normal, while for an empty house the manual typically describes a separate shutdown procedure.

    Hypothetical example: a family only comes for the New Year holidays. For the service company that is neither "living here in winter" nor "leaving for good", so it is worth describing this pattern to them separately.

  2. Book a pump-out before the cold

    A holding tank is best emptied before the roads are snowed in, and a septic tank may need its sludge removed. How completely to empty the tank is set out in the manual: the answer differs between designs.

    Hypothetical example: a cottage owner booked the truck for late autumn, but snowdrifts were already piled at the gate and the visit had to be postponed. The next autumn he booked well in advance.

  3. Ask the service company about the plant

    A biological treatment plant relies on a compressor and living bacteria, so shutting it down for winter is a job for the service company, following the manufacturer's instructions. Do not switch off or dismantle the equipment yourself until you know how that will affect the system.

    Hypothetical example: an owner wanted to simply switch the plant off for the winter. The service company explained that his system needed a different procedure and carried out the shutdown itself.

  4. Inspect lids and hatches from outside

    Check that hatches and lids are tightly closed and undamaged and that the ground around them has not sunk. Do the inspection from above, without opening manholes or leaning over them.

    Hypothetical example: in the autumn a lawnmower nudged a lid out of place. It was spotted in time, before snow could drift into the gap.

  5. Keep the vents clear

    The system has to breathe: vent outlets should not be covered with plastic sheeting, boxes or garden tools. In winter, check from time to time that ice has not built up on them.

    Hypothetical example: someone put a bucket over the vent stack to keep leaves out. In spring an unpleasant smell appeared in the house.

  6. Do not drive over the installation

    Do not park, stack firewood or pile up snow over the tank and pipes unless the design allows for it. Compacted snow and extra weight from above do the installation no good.

    Hypothetical example: guests parked right on the lawn above the septic tank, not knowing what was underneath. The spot is now marked with low posts.

  7. Drain the water from the house

    If the house stands empty and unheated, the internal pipes, traps and fixtures are prepared for winter according to their instructions and with the help of a professional. Otherwise, frozen water can damage the pipes before they even reach the installation.

    Hypothetical example: in an unheated house a trap under the sink cracked. The system outside came through the winter fine, but a repair was needed indoors.

  8. Write down what was done

    Note the date of the pump-out, what the service company did and what it advised you to check in spring. Records like these help at the next visit and when you sell the house.

    Hypothetical example: in spring the service company asked when the last pump-out had been. The owner did not have to rack his brain: the date was in the notes on his phone.

Common mistakes

  • Putting off booking the truck until the first snow
  • Switching off a treatment plant without checking with the service company and the manual
  • Covering vent outlets to keep debris out
  • Opening a manhole and looking inside to check the level
  • Parking cars and stacking heavy items over the tank
  • Leaving water in the pipes of an unheated house
  • Keeping no records of pump-outs and servicing

If not everything fits

  • If you are unsure which mode to choose, ask the service company to look at the system in the autumn and give you written recommendations.
  • If the house stands empty but your neighbours live there all year, ask them to check now and then for sunken ground or smells on your property.
  • If access to the installation is difficult in winter, discuss with the contractor whether the servicing arrangement can be changed rather than looking for workarounds yourself.

Check before you leave

  • Winter mode decided and passed on to the service company
  • Pump-out done or booked before the snow
  • Treatment plant prepared by a professional according to the manual
  • Hatches and lids intact and tightly closed
  • Vent outlets clear
  • No cars or heavy loads over the installation
  • Internal pipes of an unheated house prepared
  • Records of the work kept

Catalogue of practical articles

This section will gather standalone practical articles written for English-speaking readers: on choosing an approach, everyday maintenance and the warning signs of trouble. Where rules matter, they will remind you to check your local building and sanitary regulations.

Coming up

  • What not to flush or pour down the drain in a house with its own sewage system
  • How to prepare for a site assessment and a meeting with a designer
  • A spring check of your system after the winter
  • Buying a house with an existing septic system: questions to ask the seller

Catalogue rules

  • Articles in this catalogue are written separately for each language version and are not translations.
  • Some articles link to third-party websites, including gaming services; we do not control their content, prices or terms.
  • We do not publish advertising for equipment, manufacturers or contractors, rankings, prices or reviews.
  • Questions

    Short answers about choosing a system, odours, servicing and the winter months.

  • Holding tanks

    How a holding tank works, its strengths and limitations, and how to look after it.

  • Glossary

    Glossary: septic tank, aerobic treatment, pump-outs, post-treatment, site surveys and design.

What this text is based on

  • Equipment manufacturers' instructions (general provisions)
  • SP 32.13330 "Sewerage. External networks and facilities" (Russian code of practice)

Rules, requirements for treatment facilities and equipment manuals are updated from time to time, so the final word belongs to the design, the regulations in force and the documentation of your particular system. The texts here cite Russian standards; other countries have their own building and sanitary rules, so check local regulations and permits. This guide explains how systems work and why decisions are made, but it does not replace a designer, an installer or a service company.