Why Your Septic Alarm Might Go Off

Some septic systems have a pump tank that receives waste from the main septic tank. The pump then pumps the water into the drain field. Such a system also has an alarm that goes off if the pump tank has too much waste. Below are some of the reasons waste might overwhelm the pump tank and trigger the alarm.

Float Malfunction

The septic pump uses a float system to determine when to start and stop pumping. If the septic effluent rises above a certain level, the float rises and switches on the pump. The float falls, and the pump stops pumping once the effluent has fallen to a predetermined level.

Sometimes, however, the float gets stuck or broken and doesn't rise or fall despite changes in the effluent's depth. In such a case, the waste might overwhelm the pump tank and trigger the alarm.

Timer Malfunction

Septic systems with pumps have timers that specify the periods of the day when the pump can operate. The pump will not run outside the designated periods, even if the float rises. This check ensures wastes from the tank don't overwhelm the septic drain field.

The timer is an electrical device, and like other electrical devices, it might malfunction. If that happens, then the timer might not go off, and the pump won't operate even if the float is up. The result is an overfull pump tank and a septic alarm.

No Electricity

The septic pump runs on electricity. Thus, the tank won't run and the tank will fill up with waste if the pump is not getting electricity. Anything that cuts off the electrical supply to the pump can trigger the alarm after some time. A power blackout, a tripped circuit breaker, or even a severed cable (say, during construction work) can all deny the pump power .

Excess Water

Every septic pump has a maximum volume of waste it can pump per unit of time. During the septic installation, the contractor sizes the pump with the expected volume of waste. Unfortunately, unforeseen circumstances can send too much water into the tank and overwhelm the pump.

Such an issue might arise if:

• You are running multiple plumbing appliances, such as washing machines, bathtubs, and showers, all at once
• You are hosting a big party, and the guests have overwhelmed your septic system
• Rain or floodwater has infiltrated the pump tank

In short, anything that overwhelms the tank with water can trigger the alarm.

Drain Field Issues

The septic pump pumps waste into the drain field, so the waste won't have anywhere to go if the drain field cannot accept the waste. That might be the case if:

• Something has clogged the drain field pipes that should distribute the waste
• The drain field is saturated with water, for example, due to flooding
• The drain field is super compacted, for example, due to construction activities

In such a case, the pump will run, but the tank won't empty. Thus, the tank will full up and set off the alarm.

Pump Failure

Lastly, the septic alarm can also go off if the pump has failed. The septic pump is an electromechanical water pump with a limited lifespan. Again, pump failure allows waste to accumulate in the tank and set off the alarm. The pump can fail due to electrical issues, mechanical damage, overuse, or even aging.

Stop using water, so you don't send more of it into the tank if your septic alarm has gone off. After that, call Southern Sanitary Systems Inc for a diagnosis and solution. We understand that septic problems can occur at any time of the day or night, so we have an emergency service that operates round the clock.