Septic tank lift station pumping question

[5030tinkerer]

I have a septic tank with an additional perhaps 500 gallon poly tank downstream of it that houses a sump pump whose job it is to pump the water out to a leaching field. When the pump failed last week, I noted that the old pump's float was set to come on after only a few inches of water existed in the tank. Trying to limit the number of times that the new pump has to kick on, I set the new float switch with the new pump so that the tank fills about half full before the pump will kick on. By so doing, however, I am now realizing that I am asking my leaching field consisting of 4 or 5 100' runs to accept a pretty large quantity of water all at once. While it is true that the field has more time to dry back out between each influx of water, am I asking for trouble by setting my float switch this way?

 

[5030tinkerer]

I have a septic tank with an additional perhaps 500 gallon poly tank downstream of it that houses a sump pump whose job it is to pump the water out to a leaching field. When the pump failed last week, I noted that the old pump's float was set to come on after only a few inches of water existed in the tank. Trying to limit the number of times that the new pump has to kick on, I set the new float switch with the new pump so that the tank fills about half full before the pump will kick on. By so doing, however, I am now realizing that I am asking my leaching field consisting of 4 or 5 100' runs to accept a pretty large quantity of water all at once. While it is true that the field has more time to dry back out between each influx of water, am I asking for trouble by setting my float switch this way?

 

[swiftboot]

I just put a lift station type in as well. I noticed when it was installed the float was positioned so that it would kick on with just a few gallons in the tank. I was told that the reason being, if the pump failed, the alarm would light-up/sound-off, giving the homeowner more volume of effluent space while the pump was being replaced. What were your indication that the pump failed and how long did it last before failure?? I will be moving into the new home within the next couple weeks and this is certainly a concern for me as well.

thanks, chuck

 

[swiftboot]

I just put a lift station type in as well. I noticed when it was installed the float was positioned so that it would kick on with just a few gallons in the tank. I was told that the reason being, if the pump failed, the alarm would light-up/sound-off, giving the homeowner more volume of effluent space while the pump was being replaced. What were your indication that the pump failed and how long did it last before failure?? I will be moving into the new home within the next couple weeks and this is certainly a concern for me as well.

thanks, chuck

 

[jmc]

It was explained to me when we put ours in that the purpose of this system IS to flood the entire leachbed so that the impurities are evenly distributed. Otherwise, the leachbed slowly starts to clog, starting at the low spot.

 

[jmc]

It was explained to me when we put ours in that the purpose of this system IS to flood the entire leachbed so that the impurities are evenly distributed. Otherwise, the leachbed slowly starts to clog, starting at the low spot.

 

[bher]

I have a similar system. It probably sends 100 gallons or so to the leach field each time the pump runs. Dosing systems are said to last longer because the field has a chance to drain/dry out between each dose.

 

[bher]

I have a similar system. It probably sends 100 gallons or so to the leach field each time the pump runs. Dosing systems are said to last longer because the field has a chance to drain/dry out between each dose.

 

[Highbeam]

You should have more than one float. There should be an on-pump float and an 0ff-pump float and an overfull alarm float.

The amount of effluent that gets pumped out with each pump event determines the time betweeen pumpings. The amount pumped with each pump event is based on the distance betweeen the off float and the on float. The level of the effluent in the pump tank is not a factor except that it should be as low as possible to provide storage in the event of a power outage.

There is an ideal dosing rate, 5 times per day or something like that. Some systems handle this with a timer and some with floats alone. Dosing a system with full flow squirts is always better than a constant flood as with a gravity system.

Basicly, don't mess with it. Leave the pump tank low so it nearly pumps out with each pump event. The effluent cools the pump so there should always be some down there.

 

[Highbeam]

You should have more than one float. There should be an on-pump float and an 0ff-pump float and an overfull alarm float.

The amount of effluent that gets pumped out with each pump event determines the time betweeen pumpings. The amount pumped with each pump event is based on the distance betweeen the off float and the on float. The level of the effluent in the pump tank is not a factor except that it should be as low as possible to provide storage in the event of a power outage.

There is an ideal dosing rate, 5 times per day or something like that. Some systems handle this with a timer and some with floats alone. Dosing a system with full flow squirts is always better than a constant flood as with a gravity system.

Basicly, don't mess with it. Leave the pump tank low so it nearly pumps out with each pump event. The effluent cools the pump so there should always be some down there.