If your alarm is sounding or lighting - this is most likely not an emergency. Before you call, try this:

Press and hold the red button light in. This should silence the alarm. The alarm will go off again in about twelve hours if the issue is not automatically resolved. Then give us a call.

All aerobic systems come equipped with alarms that are programmed to indicate a malfunction in the system. You should also check to see if the circuit breaker for the system has has been tripped. If so, reset it. If it continues to trip, you'll need to call to determine the cause. If neither of these are causing the alarm to fire, the problem may be with the pump, compressor, vanes, seals, or filters.

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Septic Emergencies - Steady Light

1. Check the power source to the septic pump; the switch should be turned ON.

2. If you have recently been running a large amount of water through the system (ie: houseguests, large amounts of laundry, a running toilet, etc), we recommend using your system sparingly until this additional water passes through the system. The high water level should resolve within a few hours. If the alarm continues to go off, please contact our office promptly for assistance.

*Important: Please do not leave your septic system turned off

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Is your system backing up into your home?

We consider this an emergency. If you have to leave a message with our office or 24 hour answering service, tell them what's happening. They will page us. We consider this an urgent matter, HOWEVER, here are some things to check.

Locate the source of the blockage:

1. In the house
2. Between the house and the tank
3. Between the tank and the absorption field

Blockage in the house plumbing

To check this possibility you will need to locate the plumbing clean-outs between the house and the septic tank. Usually these clean-outs look like two protruding 4" round pipes, sealed with round screw-in caps. (If your system does not have these clean outs installed, you should consider having them installed as they will reduce the cost of maintenance over time.) Remove one or both caps and you will have a view of the bottom of the drain pipe. If the bottom has no standing waste water, your problem may be with the plumbing in the house.

You may need to call a plumber or run a snake a short ways toward the house to see if you can clear a jam. You may find it more effective to run the snake down the stacks on the roof as these almost always direct the snake toward the tanks. Soil stacks are plastic pipes that protrude above the roof about 8-10 inches.

There is one stack for each bathroom or sink. If you are running the snake from the outside cleanout, you may notice a sudden flow of wastewater. That would mean that at least one problem was within the house. Now run water from the room that was backing up and see if it flows cleanly. If not, check the bottom of the pipes from the cleanouts to see if water is now standing in the pipes. If so, then the blockage is further along toward the tanks.

Clogged stacks can cause drains to operate slowly. If you notice a gurgling sound well after a flush, the cause may be a clogged soil stack. In southern climates, leaves or wasps are common causes. Run a snake down the stack to clear these problems.

 

Blockage between the house and the tank

A blockage between the house and the tanks can be caused by a roots. This problem is best checked by a professional.

Though you may be tempted to run a snake toward the tank, the end of the snake can break the tank inlet baffle causing additional problems and needed repairs. If roots are the problem the pipe will need to be uncovered to identify the place the roots are penetrating and appropriate repairs need to be made to prevent the problem's re-occurrence. It's also possible that the scum layer has clogged the inlet pipe at the tank. This can be only determined by removing the tank covers, pumping the tank and checking the inlet port.

 

Blockage between the tank and the sprinklers

Three things can cause this type of blockage:

1. Either the tank outlet port is plugged
2. The line between the tank and the sprinklers has been damaged

This area of your system needs to be inspected by your Texas licensed maintenance provider.

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We have sewage odors in the yard

Odors in the yard, especially in or near the absorption field indicate a malfunctioning aerobic system.

The problem may be as simple as a lack of chlorine available to the system or an indicator of a more serious problem within the tank such as excessive buildup of solids or a malfunctioning pump.

For health reasons its important to quickly determine the cause of the odors and fix the problem.

 

Some of the above was adapted from: "Operating and Maintaining the Home Septic System" by Don D. Jones, Extension Agricultural Engineer, & Joseph E. Yahner, Extension Agronomist, Purdue University