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What Does My Alarm Activation Mean?
All septic tanks with pumps (typically aerobic systems) require alarms. Ever wonder what it means when your alarm goes off? Should you be worried about an emergency?
The Facts
Although the alarm may indicate your system requires attention, alarm activation usually does not indicate an emergency. Just like your “check engine” light on your vehicle, your aerobic system alarm can activate for MANY different reasons. Your alarm may also activate for a brief amount of time and turn off on its own later.
What To Do When Your Alarm Activates
- Stay calm! It’s usually not an emergency.
- Do not turn the power off to the system! This can cause adverse effects and make diagnosing more difficult.
- Silence the buzzer (the light should still stay activated). This silences the alarm but does not reset the system. If your light turns off overnight, push the silence button again to take it off of the silent mode for the next alarm activation.
- Minimize water usage in your house until the alarm activation is resolved. Most systems have a few days of wastewater capacity if the system is not pumping out to the distribution area (spray heads/drip field). Shorter showers, delaying laundry, etc. will help. Some systems are set to spray only during the night, so high water levels could be relieved overnight.
- Check your alarm the following morning to see if the alarm is still activated. If so, call a TCEQ-licensed maintenance provider to diagnose the system and make repairs if necessary.
If you need help diagnosing your system or just have questions, feel free to give us a call! We’re always here to help.