Bernie Miller invents the “Thermo-disc”
Look around you right now: most of what you see was likely invented by somebody. Bernie Miller, owner of Miller’s Sewage Treatment Solutions (MSTS), recently invented something that changes the septic game forever.
Miller has always liked helping people; this time around he has surely actualized the “solutions” in Miller’s Sewage Treatment Solutions.
A constant issue that has plagued septic owners across the northern part of the United States is freezing septic systems. Since 2019, Miller has been researching and developing a contraption called the “Thermo-disc.” From researching materials, measuring underground temperatures in septic systems with a data logger with thermocouples, and patent searches, Bernie Miller has cracked the code.
Not easy though. Working through COVID was rough: getting materials, working on prototypes with other companies, and having no virgin resin for the high-density polyethylene at the time. “You need to have the best airtight seal you can [to] keep the cold out and the heat in,” Miller explained in an interview. Miller’s two sons Josh and Riley helped him with working on prototypes and currently with assembly.
“When half the year you’re sitting and it’s frozen up, it’s not acceptable,” Miller says. So far, nobody has tried to make anything like this before. The closest thing is within the septic code, requiring that users or homeowners have an insulated cover. “We find that to be helpful, but to me it’s like going out in the winter with a hat and no coat,” says Miller. The insulated top that the septic code requires only keeps the top insulated, not the sides. The Thermo-disc is made of extruded polystyrene; the insulation between the pans is equal to about a foot of soil worth of insulation. The seals around the top rim are rubber, the pans on top and bottom are made of high-density polyethylene known as “HDPE,” a commonly manufactured plastic. Customers of MSTS with the Thermo-disc can leave the disc year-round. “[You are saved from] the nuisance of having a frozen septic system or potential expensive repairs and backups,” Miller says. “In researching things, anaerobic bacteria [the bacteria in your tank that require no oxygen] cause solids to settle outside of the tank and makes scum float; this creates a clear zone in the middle of tank, the tank has a baffle to take the water from the middle of the tank to the drain field. The cleaner the water you can send to the drain field, the longer your septic system will last,” Miller explains. Heat in septic tanks is not from the bacteria, it is from the water in the house. Bacteria goes dormant below 40° F. Around half the year, then, you have the potential of your tank not separating solids and scum, sending more biological material into your drain field that could cause it to plug up. This can shorten the lifespan of your septic system significantly. Heat goes up, cold goes down in the atmosphere. Freeze-ups mostly happen when it starts to warm up outside in the Spring. The cold is deeper underground right about now. If you can add another 1/3 of life expectancy to your drain field, this can save you a lot of money by keeping the tank working properly. The Thermo-disc can increase the life expectancy of your drain field. Some sensitive systems are susceptible to odor issues, for example, near a picnic area. Thermo-disc can help prevent that odor with its airtight rubber seal. The disc is assembled at MSTS’s shop near Kimball. MSTS is currently planning to outsource the assembly of the Thermo-disc to Alpha Plastics in Coon Rapids, Minn.
The Thermo-disc has a positive environmental impact, says Miller. “In our industry we talk about imminent public health threats, that is when you have sewage leaking on the ground or backing up into your home.” If you can keep the sewage below ground, and have your system functioning all winter, that is best. By helping the system continue to operate year-round, it also helps it properly treat the water. Septic systems generally last 20-30 years. What affects the lifespan of it is the size, how often it is used, and maintenance frequency. If the frequency of the solids that come out of the tank are increased and let into the drain field, the system will plug up sooner. Other retailers and septic companies can purchase Thermo-discs from MSTS. “Lots of people in the industry see it as a good thing. The University of Minnesota Extension service promotes it,” even some counties. There are roughly 650,000 septic systems in Minnesota. “I’d say half the state relies on septic systems,” says Bernie Miller. “You drop the heat, and we’ll keep it in.” is Josh Miller’s tagline at MSTS.
Much of the market for the Thermo-disc is where cold temperatures are: Canada, Michigan, all over the Midwest. Cabins or places with sporadic use like vacation areas need the Thermo-disc; they can freeze up easily due to the usage frequency. MSTS is approaching having installed 1,000 Thermo-discs for customers. MSTS has not yet had to replace a single Thermo-disc that they have installed since its first application five years ago. None of the materials they use are degradable within the septic environment. The rope on the top to remove the Thermo-disc has been chewed off by an animal in one instance, but otherwise there are no shortfalls. The Thermo-disc is built to last the lifetime of a septic system. There aren’t many other improvements that MSTS has added since it was introduced five years ago. Most recently, they’ve had a different type of riser that comes with a plastic tank called an infiltrator. There is a company that wants to use the Thermo-disc with their plastic tanks. The manufacturer dropped off some risers at the shop, and Miller found an easy way to make the Thermo-disc fit: simply flip the rubber seal upside-down and it fits perfectly. “Be persistent and have a good patent attorney,” Miller advises potential inventors or entrepreneurs looking to alleviate inconveniences. The invention-to-fruition process was a shared effort between Bernie, Josh, and Riley. Bernie spends a lot of his time at work problem-solving. “This is America; we figure things out. There’s two types of people: people who make problems, and people who fix problems.” With thawing prices ranging from $300-$1,400, the Thermo-disc can save you money as well. The typical cost of the Thermo-disc, including installation, is about $200. There is not yet an online store. It is rather delicate because they don’t want just any homeowner being able to purchase a Thermo-disc and placing it in their septic system. MSTS can aid with installing the Thermo-disc locally. Sugar Lake has a retired resident who travels a lot and he comes home to a frozen sewer: backed up, and $70,000 worth of damage. He’s getting the disc installed next week. Three years ago, MSTS installed a Thermo-disc at the Maine Prairie Township Hall, and they have had no issues with it. This goes to show that Miller’s ambition, dedication, process, and execution has proven that Miller’s Sewage Treatment has the solution!