Matt’s Cold Weather Products literally rolled out its frost and freeze protection Sewer Blanket for septic tanks, sewer lines and drainfields at the 2013 Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo in Indianapolis. Primarily marketed in Minnesota and portions of Canada, the product reached a broader national and international audience at the Expo.

“I’m a pumper myself, and I’ve been selling them out of the truck for five years to my customers,” says Mike Casey, sales and marketing manager for Matt’s and owner of Bunes Septic Service in Grand Rapids, Minn. “In the last few years we’ve put them in the local stores and we’re trying to expand that.”

Using no electricity, the blanket is staked to the ground and can be used below grade, at grade or on mound systems. Waterproof, it sheds late fall rain and holds snow for added insulation.

“The product is pretty new, and it was more of an introductory mission,” Casey says of his Expo experience. “We weren’t expecting to sell a lot, and we actually didn’t sell any while we were there but we received some good feedback and we have gotten some follow-up from the show. The other thing is it’s seasonal, so we’ll see how it does in the fall.”

Among the Expo visitors who stopped by his booth, Casey says inspectors were most interested in the product.

“Surprisingly, we got a lot of feedback from regulatory people at the show,” he says. “That was kind of unexpected – people that are knowledgeable in terms of rulemaking, inspectors and municipal-type people – they were very interested in the product.”

Casey says regulators liked the idea of a simple way to solve widespread freezing problems in colder climates.

“Essentially, when a system freezes out, it’s turned off, so the homeowner has a few choices to make, and sometimes they’re environmentally poor choices, and I think the regulators are all too familiar with that,” Casey says. “I’ve seen where people have disconnected their pump and run their line over land and off into the woods, or wherever. It solves the problem, but it’s not the right way to solve the problem.”

Designed to replace straw in areas where freezing is a problem, the standard 6-feet by 20-feet cover is essentially a reusable insulated tarp that weighs approximately 10 pounds and can be rolled out in the fall and rolled up in the spring.

Casey also displayed pipe wrap made from the same fabric, as well as RV skirting. “It’s a way to seal up a camper in cold weather,” he says. “It was inspired by the oilfields – people living in campers in cold weather. We also have a survival bag. It’s like a sleeping bag made out of this material that you can carry with you in the truck if you’re stranded in the cold; you can climb in and stay warm. We also have a windshield cover that eliminates having to scrape your windshield in cold weather, and we’re prototyping a heated portable shop as well.” 218/689-1031; www.sewerblanket.com.