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ATTN: Homeowners...

H

homestarmy

Diamond Member
I've had my home for two years. It was finished in July '03. Just last night I heard a buzzing noise, I went outside and saw that it was the high water alarm for my septic. I flipped the switch to silence it, but the light remains on, and it is still on today. Unfortunately it is not under warranty, to my understanding.

I called some places. A service call ranged from $50 to well over $100. Then another place (whose service call was like $125) is saying that for $205 they will pump the system, and that they recommend that it be pumped every year. I called my father (who worked for around 20 years in the wastewater industry and knows a bit about it), and he said that that is likely BS. Also, only two people live in the house (three bedroom house, built for a normal family, 1431 sq ft - meaning that if anything the septic is underused), and for over a year, my girlfriend wasn't here (so only 1 for most of the time).

Also, could a lot of rain or something cause this?

At this time, I'm going to check out a few things that my father is telling me, but I am wondering if anyone has any information or opinion on prices that I have mentioned or ANYTHING at all...

Note that I haven't had any actual problems, except for the light going on.

Thanks for any info!!!
 
$200 a year isn't that much in the scheme of things. I'd rather pay someone to pump my sh!t than do it myself 😛
 
What kind of septic? The real simple gravity-flow ones? Or one of the ones (likely with a green turtle lid) that has all several of pumps and actually makes drinkable water?

Either way you shouldn't need the sewage tank pumped every year. We have 3 people and get it done about every 5 years.
 
i think your father is correct. my house is about 3 years old and when we bought it, we had the septic tank inspected and dipped.
the inspector said it was ok for a couple more years before it would need to be pumped out

i don't know about any alarm thing, we don't have anything like that. it is just a tank

give it a couple days and see if it goes away
 
How often you pump it depends on the size of the tank, how much water you use, how often you use the garbage disposal, etc.
 
Originally posted by: homestarmy

Also, only two people live in the house (three bedroom house, built for a normal family, 1431 sq ft - meaning that if anything the septic is underused), and for over a year, my girlfriend wasn't here (so only 1 for most of the time).
Click to expand...

Taco Bell mucho?

 
Originally posted by: homestarmy

Also, could a lot of rain or something cause this?
Click to expand...

Depending on the system yes... realize after the waste water is treated it goes back to the ground. If the ground is soaked to near capacity, it's not going to be able to handle a load.

I've had septic systems (old style) and newer "treatment systems"... I periodically use RidX and have never had a problem with it. RidX is just a bunch of enzymes that helps break down the waste. Also NEVER put large amounts of bleach or such down the sewer system that could kill off the enzymes. If you do, you will definitely want to re-establish them with RidX or similar shortly afterwards.

 
Originally posted by: Sukhoi
What kind of septic? The real simple gravity-flow ones? Or one of the ones (likely with a green turtle lid) that has all several of pumps and actually makes drinkable water?

Either way you shouldn't need the sewage tank pumped every year. We have 3 people and get it done about every 5 years.
Click to expand...

I think just a simple one. I have a pump and a drainfield that takes up a large part of my back yard. The drainfield is actually raised a little bit due to water tables or something like that...
 
I?n not a homeowner, but I?ll give you something better? I?m an environment officer that permits and inspects septic systems. You are going to have to provide more info about your system for anyone to help? what kind of tank (2 compartment I hope), does it go to a field (I would assume, but you never know), what size is the field, how was it built, is the field pressure dosed or gravity fed, where is the sensor for your high water alarm?

If the level is high in your tank, then if it?s a pressure dosed field your pump could be shot or there is a plug in your line to the field, or maybe in the distribution chamber for your field , but if your line was clogged the level would go up and the pump would run forever and eventually burn out I suspect.

If the field is gravity fed, then you could have a block somewhere without the problems of a dead pump.

Your tank could also be out of whack too, (too much scum the top floating layer on the tank) the tanks are supposed to keep the scum layer on the top and drain out the water below it, and leave the sludge at the bottom?. Improper installation or having an inproperly sized system to the proposed usage can cause excessive sludge build-up, exessive scum or field failure. Do you have any garbage disposals? Any strange high flow fixtures in the house? Do you do all your laundry on one day?

First of all, I would pop the lid on your tank and have a look and tell me what you see?. If you cant do that then get a professional to help you. You should only need to have a septic tank pumped out every 3-5 years?. Any more than that and there is something wrong with the system

lots of rain shouldn't cause a back up in your tank.... you would likely see a field failure before you had problems in your tank, especially if it was a pressure dosed system. the tank should be watertight, so no outside water would get it.
 
Originally posted by: FoBoT
give it a couple days and see if it goes away
Click to expand...

My girlfriend is getting a little crazy and she doesn't want to use water or anything like that, so I don't really have the option of doing nothing about it (though I want to). There actually is a plug out there that can be unplugged. I am thinking about unplugging it for a short time, and then plugging it in to see if it resets itself or if the alarm goes back off... Is this an ok idea?
 
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
How often you pump it depends on the size of the tank, how much water you use, how often you use the garbage disposal, etc.
Click to expand...

Just two people, water usage normal, one shower per day, normal laundry, dishwasher weekly, and the garbage disposal is basically never used. Also, everything that I have read says that it is made per size of the house, so it should be made to handle two adults and a couple of kids at least... I'm a normal sized guy and she's a little 85lb woman...

And... no quiero Taco Bell. I usually #2 at work most often...
 
Originally posted by: labgeek
Originally posted by: homestarmy

Also, could a lot of rain or something cause this?
Click to expand...

Depending on the system yes... realize after the waste water is treated it goes back to the ground. If the ground is soaked to near capacity, it's not going to be able to handle a load.

I've had septic systems (old style) and newer "treatment systems"... I periodically use RidX and have never had a problem with it. RidX is just a bunch of enzymes that helps break down the waste. Also NEVER put large amounts of bleach or such down the sewer system that could kill off the enzymes. If you do, you will definitely want to re-establish them with RidX or similar shortly afterwards.
Click to expand...


Well, here in FL, it has basically been raining every evening, and lately it has been somewhat heavy... that is why I was thinking along these lines...
 
that electrical line could be powering your pump to your septic field if you have a pressure dosed system as well as your alarm... unplug that and then you have a septic tank that will need to be pumped out weekly, because the water will be going nowhere
 
Originally posted by: flamingelephant
I?n not a homeowner, but I?ll give you something better? I?m an environment officer that permits and inspects septic systems. You are going to have to provide more info about your system for anyone to help? what kind of tank (2 compartment I hope), does it go to a field (I would assume, but you never know), what size is the field, how was it built, is the field pressure dosed or gravity fed, where is the sensor for your high water alarm?

If the level is high in your tank, then if it?s a pressure dosed field your pump could be shot or there is a plug in your line to the field, or maybe in the distribution chamber for your field , but if your line was clogged the level would go up and the pump would run forever and eventually burn out I suspect.

If the field is gravity fed, then you could have a block somewhere without the problems of a dead pump.

Your tank could also be out of whack too, (too much scum the top floating layer on the tank) the tanks are supposed to keep the scum layer on the top and drain out the water below it, and leave the sludge at the bottom?. Improper installation or having an inproperly sized system to the proposed usage can cause excessive sludge build-up, exessive scum or field failure. Do you have any garbage disposals? Any strange high flow fixtures in the house? Do you do all your laundry on one day?

First of all, I would pop the lid on your tank and have a look and tell me what you see?. If you cant do that then get a professional to help you. You should only need to have a septic tank pumped out every 3-5 years?. Any more than that and there is something wrong with the system

lots of rain shouldn't cause a back up in your tank.... you would likely see a field failure before you had problems in your tank, especially if it was a pressure dosed system. the tank should be watertight, so no outside water would get it.
Click to expand...


I do believe it is a two tank. I remember looking at diagrams on info from my packet that came with my house, and it showing two chambers. Also, it is a brand new house, do they make the other kind anymore? The drain field seems to be quite large. I have a big hump in my back yard (I'll post pics if I get a chance). My back yard is quite large, and it appears (I don't really know how to tell for sure to tell you the truth) that it takes up quite a large part of the yard. The box with the red light is bolted to the back of my house, facing the drain field. It is maybe 15 feet from the area that I know is the drainfield, maybe even less. It is just a grey box with a red light on it, and one switch to test (if flipped left) or silence (if flipped right). Also, next to it is the inlet where the item is plugged in. A normal three prong plug that is covered by plastic to keep it from the elements. My father says that I should be able to find somewhere under it access to the tank. I might need to use something to poke into the ground to find it under the grass. Does that sound normal? He says that the floats might be off or that something might need to be cleaned etc. On that note, I don't really eat anything that gives off grease, and when I do, I don't dump it down the sink... I know that it can cause problems.

I have a garbage disposal. Basically never used at all. No high flow items, nothing out of the ordinary at all, highest flow item would be my washer (not large sized) or normal sized dishwasher. Laundry is sometimes done all on one day. But most of the time it is two loads at most.

And if someone is to come out and look at it... what is a acceptable charge? I am thinking about having the $50 people come and look at it. The odd part is that some people said free estimates, but when I call them, then they say $50-100 just to come out for a "service call".

Any other info that I might know off hand? I wish I was home!
 
Originally posted by: flamingelephant
that electrical line could be powering your pump to your septic field if you have a pressure dosed system as well as your alarm... unplug that and then you have a septic tank that will need to be pumped out weekly, because the water will be going nowhere
Click to expand...

Well, I figure that is exactly what it was powering. I was saying maybe I should unplug it for a couple of minutes, then plug it back in to reset the system, would that be ok?
 
Originally posted by: homestarmy
The odd part is that some people said free estimates, but when I call them, then they say $50-100 just to come out for a "service call".
Click to expand...

"We estimate that it would cost about $50 for us to come out and look at the tank..."
 
Oh, always use plain white TP when you have a septic tank. Sorry but that's about all I know about them. 🙂

Just my .02
 
Getting it pumped every year is definitely overboard. For modest usage such as you describe, 3-5 years is probably on the cautious side (my dad's went 20+ years - not that I'm reccomending that!).

As somebody else said, rain can't get into the tank, but if your field is saturated, you could get septic water coming to the surface out there. I've actually never seen one with a water level alarm!? I've always dealt with simple gravity flow systems. $100 - $200 doesn't sound unreasonable to have the tank inspected/pumped. I think I paid $150 3 years ago.

As others have said...
- Use the garbage disposal sparingly - if at all
- Go very easy on bleach and other harsh cleaners
- Plain white TP - the cheap stuff. None of that quilted stuff.
 
your next step will be to find the tank itself... do some poking around, follow the electrical line if you have to.... open it up and take a peak... could be the float, easy fix then! let us know when you get home
 
You have been so extremely helpful. That really was my next course of action in the line, but now I am confident that I am going in the right direction. The electrical connection is right next to the high water alarm box. I am going to poke below there with some kind of stick or long object and find it...

It seems strange that you actually have to dig to get to it... but I'll live!

Thanks again!
 
You should have your septic tank inspected and pumped every year. If you think the $50-$100 this costs is expensive, the people who pay for sewer usually pay on the order of $500-$1000 over the course of a year to have their crap hauled away.

if your septic system goes bad on you it could cost well over $500 to fix, thats why you get it maintained every year.
 
I guess there are two schools of thought on this. But my qualm with your statement is that it is not going to be a measley $50-100. I was quoted $205. I also make around $22k a year and after bills there is nothing left generally. Plus I'm paying $750 a class for grad school so...
 
maybe you should add the enzymes to the septic tank that break down the crap...possibly the drainage field is plugged due to this to
 
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