

Therefore the alarm went off once the water got too high in the tank.Īlso, check the outlets where the pump is plugged in. Apparently, the electrician who installed it left it off and the system was never on for the two first weeks we were in our house. If there is a power shortage or any power problem, your pump will not be able to remove water from the tank.Ĭheck the main circuit breaker for your septic system to see if there is power to your septic system.ĭon’t forget to check the pump breaker in your control box if you have one. Let’s go over the most common causes of this. Most of the time your septic system alarm will go off because the water in your tank is higher than it should be. And shower if you have to, but keep it short. Stop using your washing machine, dishwasher, and similar appliances that use water. Reduce your water usage to a minimum until the problem is resolved.In my case, I didn’t have a sound because mine was in mute (see picture above). Press the button, or a switch, to silence the alarm (if there is a sound). When the septic alarm goes off, follow these next steps: The alarm means that the water level is increased, not that it will burst out in a few seconds. Modern septic systems are designed in a way that you have enough time to reduce water usage and diagnose a problem before the system overflows. => These are 10 things that you should know about your septic system Two Main Things to Do When the Alarm Goes Off? You may not hear a sound if your alarm is in silent mode (mute). Red light and a sound mean that the alarm is on because it is receiving a signal that the water level has reached a limit within the septic tank. Green one should always be on, as it indicates that the alarm has power. There are two lights on the box, green and red. When you know how it is supposed to look, you will notice if something is out of order. Some have buttons to turn the alarm off, while others have switches. I didn’t have that luxury –we were barely unpacked when the alarm went off. Get to know yours, even if you never had a problem.

If the pump has no water to pump out, it could potentially damage the pump. Usually, the alarm goes off if the water level is too high, but it could also go off when the water level is too low. If everything is working correctly, you can rest assured that the alarm will inform you about a potential problem. The rising water level can be a huge problem, and proper maintenance of the system is essential. When the water level is too high, the alarm will go off to warn you. As the pump can work for a specific amount of time, it may take more than one pumping cycle to remove the excess water. If there is more water than usual, the water level will rise. Pumping too much water into the drain field can cause damage.Īll the water that gets into the system between those pumping cycles will remain in the pump tank. Wastewater is pumped into the drain field in cycles to prevent overflowing. Most timers are set to pump two or more times (cycles) a day, which should be sufficient to accommodate most household usage. Modern septic systems have a timer inside the control box to establish when water should be removed and for how long.

Septic tank alarms have one primary purpose: to inform you that the water level inside the pump tank is too high.ĭepending on the size of your tank, water consumption, and a few more technical features, the pump will remove wastewater every few hours.

What is a Septic Tank Alarm, and How It Works? Update: A Manager Asked the Technician to Come Again.Technician Came to Troubleshoot the Problem.Update: My Septic Alarm is Going Off Again.Two Main Things to Do When the Alarm Goes Off?.What is a Septic Tank Alarm, and How It Works?.You are probably thinking like me: Don’t I have enough with figuring out why my smoke alarm is beeping or chirping intermittently? Not because it is a nice thing to know, but because, according to the EPA, your Septic System is your responsibility. If that’s not the case, inspect the system or call a professional.Īs a homeowner, you should know how your septic system works to recognize and understand basic problems. The pump will finish a couple of cycles and possibly remove the excess water. Do not use a lot of water and wait for 12 hours. Then check the electricity to see if the pump has power. When the septic alarm goes off, you should silence it. If the alarm sound is in silent mode, only the red light will show. Most alarms will show a red light and a sound. If the water level in the pump tank gets too high, or sometimes even too low, the alarm will go off. Septic systems with pumps usually have some warning signs to alert the homeowner if something is wrong.
