Website design By BotEap.comIf you have a septic system with a drain field, I recommend installing a septic tank alarm if you don’t already have one. The alarm should be located in a part of your home or property where you can easily see it flash or hear it chime.

Website design By BotEap.comNew construction homes often come equipped with a septic tank alarm. If you hear an unknown alarm buzzing or a mysterious red light flashing, it may be your septic alarm. This alarm alerts you when your septic pump is not working properly.

Website design By BotEap.comWhen the alarm sounds, it usually means that the septic effluent (wastewater in the septic tank) is not being properly pumped to the drain field. Call a septic system cleaning company immediately. This type of problem can quickly lead to septic effluent backing up and reaching your basement. Don’t get sucked into the cost of pumping your septic system; it’s much cheaper to clean your system than it is to renovate your basement and get rid of the septic odor in your house.

Website design By BotEap.comThere are times when a septic alarm sounds and the pump is still working fine. Being able to diagnose these situations can save you time and money. Use the following list to help you determine why your septic alarm is sounding.

• Have you been properly maintaining your septic tank? A well-maintained septic pump will typically last 10-15 years.
• Could the power to the septic pump be disconnected? If there is no power, the pump will appear to be malfunctioning when it is not.
• Are the lines in your drain field clogged? They can clog when your septic tank is overused and when the drain field is clogged it can cause water to back up into your home.
• Could there have been a power outage in your area or a blown fuse that caused the septic pump to lose power?
• Do you pump your septic system regularly (every 1-3 years)?

Website design By BotEap.comIgnoring the septic tank alarm can result in a smelly mess in your basement, so make sure you never ignore the alarm. Many people do not have a septic tank alarm installed, so they do not have the luxury of an early warning system and may one day wake up in a basement full of sewage.

Website design By BotEap.comInstalling the alarm and using it correctly will save you time, money and manpower.