Alarms for septic systems warn residents that the water level in the septic tank is higher than it should be. But do not panic; here is what you need to know. First, push the red button or switch to silence the alarm (no sense going crazy while you try to figure out what is happening). Understand that the purpose of the alarm is to warn you, so you still have a bit of room in your tank, giving you time to figure out what is happening. Next, check the breaker box to ensure the breaker has not flipped. Still no luck, go outside and do a quick review of the area. Do you see water coming out of your tank or sitting on your leach field? Call us and tell us what you see and hear. We are here to help you!

Many think a sounding alarm means the tank needs to be pumped immediately. While pumping may silence the alarm in the short term, this is only a band-aid to finding the real problem. Common issues include the following:

1. The effluent filter inside the septic tank is clogged with solids, slowing the flow of water leaving the tank.

2. The submersible pump in your tank has failed, or the float that controls the submersible pump has failed. Failure of a pump or float switch can cause high water levels to remain in the tank.

3. The outlet line has plugged, or the leach field has failed.

4. Have questions, call us. It’s what we are here for 920-696-3496

Usually, your county of residence will send you a notice when pumping is required. It is recommended that a septic service pumping professional inspects your system every 2-3 years. After pumping, the pumping professional will note the condition of your system on a service report. If repairs are recommended, hire a septic service professional to get your system in passing condition.

For a residential home, the size of your septic system is determined by the number of bedrooms in the home as well as the quality and type of soil on your property in the area where the septic system will be placed. 

The amount of time between pumping depends on multiple factors. The size of your tank, the number of people, and how much/often water is used all factor into this timeline. Upon installation of a new tank, most owners see a pattern after a few weeks of usage. The pumper will often put you on a pumping schedule after the pattern is developed.

When the alarm in your holding tank goes off, you still have a few days of space available in your tank, if you use water under your normal conditions. Call your pumper to schedule an appointment and you should be good to go.

Due to the septic system type and size depending on soil type and quality, sometimes the soil tester may see that the soil is on the borderline for supporting one type of system vs another. In this case, additional test holes may be dug to confirm the findings or to see if a different area on the property has different soil types/properties.