Centreville VA Septic System Alarm
A septic tank overfill can damage the entire system and force sewage back into the home or business it is supposed to service. A functioning Centreville VA septic system alarm prevents that and can either stop or reduce the release of wastewater into the soil. With Advantage, our alarms use float control switches. These devices link not just to a warning alert, but also to a sewer ejector pump.
The alert lets the facility manager or homeowner know when the wastewater level in the septic tank approaches the fill level. This level is low enough so that the owner has time to schedule a removal or service call, but still use the maximum capacity possible of the septic tank.
If the tank continues to fill, the alarm sounds again and the float activates the ejector pump. The pump forces out the top level of wastewater in the tank, which is called effluent. As it goes down to a safe level, the float turns off the pump to prevent releasing any more wastewater than necessary to prevent damage to the septic system.
The septic system alarm not only protects against overfills but identifies other problems that affect the proper function of the septic system and reduce costs from excessive service and waste removal calls. Here are three questions customers often ask about their septic systems.
Can the water softener I use affect the alarm?
Indirectly yes, especially if you have an older system. Regulations changed in 2003, and all water softener systems installed after 1 September have to bypass any treatment and go directly into the tank. How this affects the alarm is determined by the type of salt used to soften water. Potassium does not affect the bacteria in the tank very much, but it is very bad for the pumping mechanism. That means the ejector pump may not start when the float sends a signal, or it may not stop until the level is so low it has nothing left to pump and burns out.
Sodium does not corrode the pump like potassium, but it does kill bacteria in the tank. Over softening the water can eliminate enough bacteria to stop the breakdown of solid matter in the tank; this fills the tank faster which activates the alarm for an unscheduled removal call.
Do I need to add water to my septic tank?
Never add water to your septic system. At installation, the tank is filled to check for leaks, and so the county environmental office can perform an inspection. If you add water, all you are doing is raising the level. That means the alarm goes off sooner and you have to schedule a removal service.
I have a strong sewage odor in the yard, did my septic system alarm fail?
Possibly yes. There could be trouble with the float control switch, but the problem is more often a failure of the ejector pump. If you just had wastewater removed and there is still smell after more than a day or two, you need to schedule an inspection. There may be a crack in the tank or pipe, or the access hatch was not properly secured.
A Centreville VA septic system alarm can prevent massive spills and a cleanup cost just as large. If you suspect there is a problem with your system, call Advantage Septic Service at (703) 392-7070 today.