What Should I Do If My Septic Alarm is Ringing
BEEP! BEEP! RED LIGHT FLASHING!
Your septic alarm is going off!
No fun, is it?
But, PANIC?
Naw, don’t bother.
Here’s why.
- The septic alarm is simply doing its job.
- It’s also designed to warn you in plenty of time.
- Read on to learn exactly what you need to do.
What The Septic Alarm Does:
- Monitors the water level in your tank
- Warns you when the level has risen too high
- Gives you 24-48 hour notice before a backup would occur even with normal usage.
All pump-operated septic systems have a monitoring system for managing the pumping intervals into the drain field. This system protects the drain field from harm during periods of high water levels.
Does a Septic Alarm Always Signify a Real Problem?
Septic system alarm activation always signals a problem – we just don’t know how serious that problem actually is. The possibilities range from something as small as an electrical connector issue to something as serious as a pump failure. Or, the problem could even be a faulty alarm system giving you a false warning.
What Triggers the Alarm?
The alarm can be triggered by too much water going into the system – either drain water or potentially ground water. Failure or damage to the septic system’s components can also trigger the alarm. Anything from the pump to the floats to the alarm to the wiring could possibly be setting off your septic alarm.
Okay, the Alarm Is Ringing. What Shall I do?
- First things first, turn off or silence the alarm.
- Check to be certain that the septic breaker is on.
If the breaker is on, check the alarm light in 30-60 minutes. The system may be able to catch up with the excess, after which the light will go out on its own.
If the red light remains on, past that time period, contact your septic company for emergency service. Professional assistance will be needed to find out what is preventing your septic system from discharging the water.
What Does Septic Emergency Service Involve?
- Pumping Your Tank – This will lower the water levels enough for your septic professional to evaluate your system and identify the problem. Although this will remove the sewage from your tank, it will not necessarily resolve a malfunction or a system clog.
- Inspecting Your System – Once the system components are accessible, your septic professional will be able to find the cause of the malfunction as well as a way to fix the issue. You may need to continue to limit water usage during this time.
- Keeping Your Contact Information Up-to-date – Since we may need to stay in contact with you more frequently, make doubly certain that the contact info that you have with us is current.
Septic alarms signal a potential problem, but they are no reason to panic.
Contact RenewSource today for all of your septic system emergencies!
