Potomac Falls VA Septic System Alarm

A septic system is a safe alternative to using a sewer system, especially in areas with poor soil or difficult geography. There is the risk of sewage getting into the local environment, but with the right alarm, Potomac Falls VA septic systems are very safe for businesses and private homes. Understanding how the alarm works help to understand the entire set-up.

Every alarm installed by Advantage uses a float control switch to monitor septic tank levels. Any tank without one requires a more aggressive inspection and maintenance schedule to ensure there is no sewage spill into the environment or have it back up into the structure. That means opening the tank more often which can lead to more spills and other problems.

Our work crews set the float to trigger the alarm at a reasonable warning level. It provides the person responsible for monitoring the septic system to turn off the alarm, perform a quick inspection, and call for our response team to remove the wastewater or perform another servicing operation.

You still have to be ready when the alarm sounds, however. Believe it or not, your first action should be to turn it off. A Potomac Falls VA septic system alarm is supposed to attract attention, so everyone comes running to fix the problem or at least figure out what happened. It is loud, and your neighbors are not going to like it until they realize it keeps wastewater off their property.

Now, try to figure what happened. If you are getting close to your regularly scheduled removal visit, then you probably filled the septic tank sooner than expected. For private homes, this is common after a major holiday when you have many visitors. There is also the possibility that an item flushed into the system is affecting the level or the float itself. Look at the septic tank location for much water or a sewage smell.

If you cannot find anything wrong with the tank, do not ignore it. A false alarm rarely ever happens. Often, the problem is minor and quickly fixed. Ignoring it only means you pay much more in a few weeks, months or a year later. If it turns into a major sewage release, the state environmental agency may hit you with fines that double or triple the cost of repairs.

In a case like this, your Potomac Falls VA septic system alarm usually sounds off after several days of rain or snow. Water can get into your septic tank through even the tiniest crack. The increased amount of water adds up quickly, triggering the alarm. After quick repairs and a tank truck remove the accumulated rain and wastewater, operations return to normal immediately.

To prevent hearing your Potomac Falls septic system alarm except during an inspection, stay familiar with its operation. Advantage recommends walking around the area of eyour tank and following the inlet and outlet pipes once a month. It keeps you familiar with the normal appearance of your site which lets you identify a problem more quickly. Call us at (703) 392-7070 for more information.