Common Causes for a Septic Tank Alarm Going Off

When your septic tank alarm goes off, you need to have it checked out immediately by a professional. Failure to do so could result in your home being flooded with waste water. There are various reasons why the alarm will go off. This article will discuss some of them.

Pump

Some septic systems use a pump to move waste water to the drain field. These pumps last about ten years on average. Once it goes bad, waste water will stop being moved and the alarm will go off. Obviously, you will need to get this fixed as soon as possible.

Rain

Another reason that your septic tank alarm will go off is due to excess rain. Heavy rainfall in your area may cause the tank to accumulate water. The excess load may be too much for your pump to handle. This is when the alarm will go off to alert you to the problem. This doesn't signal a malfunction with your system since the excess water should eventually drain away on its own though.

Power

The pumps that were mentioned earlier are powered by electricity. If you have electrical problems, then the pump will no longer have the power to activate. Also, you can accidentally turn off power to the pump causing the alarm to go off.

Pipes

Waste water in your tank is moved to the drain field through a pipe. This pipe can sometimes get clogged causing your septic tank alarm to go off. The pipe can get clogged up due to scum buildup, excess water, or various other reasons.

Tank

Solids accumulate in your septic tank. Beneficial bacteria try to do their part and get rid of them, but they can't get them all. You will need to get this tank pumped every few years or so. If you don't, it may get overloaded and cause your septic tank alarm to go off.

These are some of the reasons your septic tank alarm may go off. The pump may have malfunctioned or experienced a loss of power. Also, excess rainfall can fill the tank and overload the pump.