Septic System

[DIRTCUTTER]

I am located in Northern Calif. Because of the strom I was without power for three days,this afternoon I got power back. My question is this,my alarms on my septic system went off, I have a sand fillter system. I pushed the buttons to shut them off, do I need to check for anything else in the system.

 

[ToadHill]

Is the sand waterlogged?

 

[DIRTCUTTER]

Is the sand waterlogged?

Am new at this I dont know

 

[RonMar]

What exactly do the alarms monitor? Do you have a collect/eject tank? Since most sand filters are above ground, you flush into a septic setteling tank. The fluid(minus most all the solids) that would normally leave this tank to go into a drainfield flows into a holding tank. when it gets full, the liquid is pumped up and into the sand filter to percolate any small remaining solids and allow time to break down any bacteria into the sand before the water returns to earth. A high level alarm is sometimes added to alert you to a pump problem in this outflow tank. If your pump was without power for several days, the tank high level alarm could be what was activated, or the pump may have tripped with unusual power fluctuations and may need it's controller/breaker reset.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

I am located in Northern Calif. Because of the strom I was without power for three days,this afternoon I got power back. My question is this,my alarms on my septic system went off, I have a sand fillter system. I pushed the buttons to shut them off, do I need to check for anything else in the system.

I suspect you have a sand mound as we do here in Pa. If you do, this is common when power goes out. There is a pump in your septic tank that pumps the fluids out to a sandy leech field. When you lose power, the pump don't pump. The alarm going off is a high water alarm. Just a safety in case the pump doesn't work, the tank doesn't overflow. There should also be a light on the box with the alarm for high water, make sure the light is out. I suspect the button you pushed was the alarm silence button. Turn the audible alarm back on. You should be okay now.

 

[elad]

If you have a 2nd tank to pump from to the field or mound and the pump
is in the tank; the pump may have drowned and needs to be given some
attention or replaced. Just a thought. Mine is in the tank. Don't put water
in the system when there is no power to pump.

 

[rtdiggr]

I suspect you have a sand mound as we do here in Pa. If you do, this is common when power goes out. There is a pump in your septic tank that pumps the fluids out to a sandy leech field. When you lose power, the pump don't pump. The alarm going off is a high water alarm. Just a safety in case the pump doesn't work, the tank doesn't overflow. There should also be a light on the box with the alarm for high water, make sure the light is out. I suspect the button you pushed was the alarm silence button. Turn the audible alarm back on. You should be okay now.

i agree with Wayne, my system has a pump in the 3rd chamber but doesn't have an alarm. You could always get the old shovel out and see how it looks.

You say you are new to this [septic] We don't know how old your place is but have you had your system pumped out yet???????????????? This is really important and there are a few factors involved like how many people use it? what about before you bought the place? When was it pumped out last?

Your system should be done anywhere from 2-4 years.

Shane

 

[RexB]

I am located in Northern Calif. Because of the strom I was without power for three days,this afternoon I got power back. My question is this,my alarms on my septic system went off, I have a sand fillter system. I pushed the buttons to shut them off, do I need to check for anything else in the system.

I have a pump and sand mound system too, if you have the mound and not an above ground sandfilter tank. Both designs are similar in operation. I agree that it is likely just the high-water alarm/s that triggered when the power came back on and likely no damage was done. Use the "manual" switch to pump it out if you don't want to wait for the automatic cycle on/off to empty it.

On these systems the pump is always under water in the last septic chamber, before it pumps out to the sand filter or mound for settling. I just replaced mine after ten years.

That was a heckuva storm you had there in N.Cal! When it passed by here offshore on its way to you, the barometer went down to 29.01. Closer to the equator that usually equals Hurricane!

 

[dfkrug]

That was a heckuva storm you had there in N.Cal! When it passed by here offshore on its way to you, the barometer went down to 29.01. Closer to the equator that usually equals Hurricane!

Ain't that the truth!

Here in the Santa Cruz Mtns, I got 13 in of rain in about 1 1/2 days. Power
was out long enough to have to run generator. Winds were strong enough to
blow over semis on bridges.

 

[dfkrug]

I have a pump and sand mound system too, if you have the mound and not an above ground sandfilter tank. Both designs are similar in operation. I agree that it is likely just the high-water alarm/s that triggered when the power came back on and likely no damage was done. Use the "manual" switch to pump it out if you don't want to wait for the automatic cycle on/off to empty it.

On these systems the pump is always under water in the last septic chamber, before it pumps out to the sand filter or mound for settling. I just replaced mine after ten years.

That is similar to what I have, which is a pump-up system from Orenco. The
hi water alarm in the holding tank will go off after a long power outage. My
pump is in a vault, within a 1500 gal holding tank. The pump is a submersible,
just like in my well. I am not looking fwd to replacing it as it is over $500.

 

[Highbeam]

Another benefit of transfer panel to provide backup power to these critical circuits. There are mounds, there are recirculating gravel filters, and then there are sand filters plus a couple more. I have worked on buried sand filters that were only used to reduce the required drainfield area. There can be several different pumps with these and each will have some sort of high level alarm.

When the power came on, your pumps should have too.

Most of the pumps are set with level switches and timers to maintain a fairly low level of liquid in their sumps. This low normal level provides a good bit of storage which will allow you some time to contribute during the power outage.

In the future, find the first cleanout on the line between your home and the first tank. Unthread the cleanout lid when the power is out and just set it on the top of the threads. This practice will allow for the release of sewage at the clenaout location onto the surface and while nasty and foul is worlds better than having the sewage flood your first floor.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

That is similar to what I have, which is a pump-up system from Orenco. The
hi water alarm in the holding tank will go off after a long power outage. My
pump is in a vault, within a 1500 gal holding tank. The pump is a submersible,
just like in my well. I am not looking fwd to replacing it as it is over $500.

Boy, I never thought I'd feel fortunate to have the system I do. My pump is like a standard sump pump and can be had for about $100. I've had it out a couple times to rewire it. Finally got smart and bought waterproof wire nuts. No problems since.

 

[rtdiggr]

DIRTCUTTER like i said before you can always get out the shovel. If you do this becarful your tank contains methane gas that could be deadly.

Do a search on methane gas septic there is alot of info there. personnelly when i go in the tank i use a organic cartrige mask.

Shane

 

[Highbeam]

Holy smokes! You go IN the tank? They don't even let us climb into manholes anymore without lots of special equipment.

Don't go in the tank.

If the pump needs to be replaced it will be underwater. Most all pumps are mounted such that they can be pulled up to the surface after disconnecting a plumbing union.

 

[rtdiggr]

Holy smokes! You go IN the tank? They don't even let us climb into manholes anymore without lots of special equipment.

Don't go in the tank.

If the pump needs to be replaced it will be underwater. Most all pumps are mounted such that they can be pulled up to the surface after disconnecting a plumbing union.

Highbeam you are very much right, i did miss say that. DO NOT GO IN THE TANK.

Having said that i have had my cover of my 3rd camber off a few times. She doesn't smell like roses. That is when a mask comes in handy.

Maybe i should call Mike Rowe [Dirty Jobs] next time i open the camber he doesn't seem to mind getting dirty.

Shane

 

[Highbeam]

Phew rtdiggr, that's good to hear. I have had to knock the stuck floats around on a few pump tanks and the liquid isn't clear but more milky and stinky. The pumps are liquid cooled and should be underwater but you can hear them running.

The last pump tank I owned was 1000 gallons and the top of the tank was about 3 feet below grade. The lid is required to be at the surface in my area so they put on risers and a 24" or so lid. The floats on that pump were set to pump the tank down to about a foot of liquid in the bottom of the pump tank which is great for power outages since it takes a long time to fill 750 gallons of pump tank during a power outage. But, I wouldn't let the kids stand on that surface plastic tank lid. I was afraid it would collapse and the kid, or me, would fall 7 feet into a dark, nearly, empty tank filled with poisonous gas.

At least if you fall into a septic tank you can swim a bit and pull yourself out.

 

[rtdiggr]

Yeah on my list of "ways to go" that really isn't to high on the list. Me with my head in a tank full of .......

Shane