Woodbridge VA Septic System Alarm

A Woodbridge VA septic system alarm is designed to prevent the overfill and possible overflow of wastewater from the septic holding tank into the environment. The alarm links to a float control switch which receives a signal once it reaches a pre-programmed height, triggering the warning. The idea is to set the level at a point where the homeowner or building manager has time to look for the problem and call for a repair service or a tank truck to remove the wastewater before any of it gets into the local environment.

So when the septic system alarm sounds, you need to be prepared. There are a few common questions that we hear every year from almost every building manager and homeowner. The first, of course, is what do I do when the alarm goes off?

Your first action should be to turn the alarm off. It is going to be loud and is designed to get you to drop everything and check your system. If you have neighbors within two or three blocks, they can hear it too, so be a good neighbor, and they might not call the police if you turn it off quickly enough.

Now, figure out what happened. Most of the time, it turns out that you may have filled your tank more quickly than expected, but there is also a chance that the float is reacting to another problem like a blocked outlet pipe. It can happen if a foreign object was flushed down the system and has floated to the top with the effluent.

The next question we hear is, I checked everything, but I cannot find a problem with the alarm or the tank; what is wrong with my system?

If this happens, the usual culprit is a water leak into the tank. That means a crack may have developed around the access hatches or where one of the pipes connects to the tank. In a few cases, we have found a hatch that was not properly secured. The source of the water is usually excess rain or a broken water line nearby. Once, we discovered a broken sewer line was leaking sewage in the local area where it worked its way into the septic tank.

Finally, we are asked how do I keep the septic system alarm from going off?

That is simple, do not ignore your septic system. Know the location of your tank and walk around the area at least once a month. It keeps you familiar with what the surface looks like and lets you quickly spot a change in the area. You should never be able to detect sewage if the system is working properly, so if you do smell something, call for an inspection immediately.

For more information on what you need to know about a septic system alarm or installing a system for your home or business, call Advantage Septic Service at (703) 392-7070 today.