← Septic Problem Guide

Why Is My Septic Alarm Going Off?

A septic alarm tells you that part of your system needs attention. It could be an aerator that isn’t running properly, high water in a pump chamber, or a UV disinfection unit that needs service. If you can safely see the light or message from outside the control box, take a photo or write it down.

If the alarm indicates high water, or you’re unsure what it means, reduce water use and call your septic service provider. Pause laundry and dishwasher use. If sewage is already backing up, stop using water and keep people and pets away from it. Leave tank lids and electrical panels closed.

Aerator alarms on Norweco Singulair systems

The aerator supplies oxygen to the bacteria that treat wastewater. In a Norweco Singulair, a spinning shaft helps introduce air into the liquid. If the motor stops or the shaft can’t spin properly, the system can lose aeration while the drains in your house still seem to work normally. Norweco Singulair owner’s manual

What can make an aerator alarm go off?

• Debris wrapped around the shaft. Fibers and other material can wind around the spinning shaft, causing vibration or making the motor work harder. A technician can check for buildup and determine whether the shaft or motor was damaged.
• A worn bearing or failing motor. If you heard grinding, squealing, or a rough rumble before the alarm, mention it when you call. A worn bearing can make the shaft harder to turn and eventually contribute to motor failure. Debris or an unbalanced shaft can make similar noises, so the sound helps guide the inspection.
• High water dragging on the rotating plate. On shaft-style aerators with a rotating deflector or foam-control plate, high water can reach a part that normally spins above the liquid. That contact can add drag and increase the load on the motor. Norweco identifies high water, a downstream pump failure, and a Bio-Kinetic unit that needs service as possible reasons for an aerator overload. The technician should check why the water rose as well as how the aerator is running. Norweco Service Pro specifications

What does the Norweco Service Pro Control Center monitor?

The Service Pro Control Center monitors how much electrical current the aerator draws. On applicable models, it can interrupt power when it detects a fault and attempt a restart. That helps protect the motor and gives you an early warning when something needs attention. Norweco Service Pro specifications

Aerator overcurrent

The aerator is drawing more current than expected. Extra drag, high water, or a motor problem can contribute.

Aerator undercurrent or open motor

The panel detects too little current or an open circuit. A disconnected aerator, damaged wiring, or a motor fault can be involved.

Auxiliary alarm

A separate device connected to the panel needs attention. Depending on your setup, that could be a pump, a high-water float, or a UV disinfection unit.

The lights, messages, and monitoring features vary by Service Pro model and connected equipment. A fault that clears and then returns is worth reporting. Norweco panel indicator guide

Have a Jet system? Jet is also common in our area. Its residential panels can monitor the aerator and, depending on the model and wiring, high water or other equipment. Jet calls the rotating plate on its shaft-style aerator a foam restrictor. Share the Jet panel label and model with your provider so they can interpret the alarm for your setup. Jet residential control panels · Jet aerator documentation

Lift station and high-water alarms

A lift station collects effluent, the liquid leaving the septic tank or treatment unit, and pumps it to the next part of the system when gravity alone can’t get it there. In some systems, the pump lifts effluent to a distribution box, which divides the flow among the leach field lines. Other systems pump directly to a pressure distribution network or another treatment component. Zoeller lift stations · How a distribution box works

How do the floats work?

A float rises and falls with the liquid inside the pump chamber. As it moves, it operates a switch that tells the pump or control panel when the liquid has reached a certain level.

1. Pump-on level. Effluent flows into the chamber and lifts the float. In a common setup, once the liquid reaches the pump-on level, the switch tells the pump to start.
2. Pump-off level. As the pump moves effluent out, the liquid level drops. At the lower level, the switch tells the pump to stop. The space between the on and off levels lets the pump move a batch of liquid each cycle.
3. High-water alarm level. A separate float sits above the normal pump-on level on many systems. If the liquid keeps rising and reaches that float, it signals the alarm. This gives you a chance to cut water use before the chamber runs out of room.

Some pumps use one float switch for both start and stop. Other setups use separate floats and a control panel. Timed-dose systems use a controller to schedule pump cycles and may use floats to tell it when enough liquid is available to pump. Zoeller guide to pump station floats · Zoeller timed dosing guide

Why would the high-water alarm go off?

The alarm tells you the liquid reached the warning level. A stuck or failed pump float can keep the pump from starting. A failed pump or loss of pump power can have the same result. The alarm can also sound while the pump is running if a blocked discharge line restricts flow or water is entering faster than the pump can move it out. Leave the chamber closed and have a service provider check the floats, pump, and discharge line. Zoeller guide to pump station floats

If the pump is the only way out and it stops moving water, the chamber will keep filling as long as water comes in. Once the available space fills, the wastewater can back up toward the house or overflow elsewhere in the system. Reduce water use and call when the alarm goes off, even if the house drains are still working.

UV alarms on direct-discharge systems

Some systems are designed and permitted to release treated wastewater to surface water. On systems equipped with ultraviolet disinfection, the treated liquid passes by a UV lamp before it leaves. The light inactivates germs in the water, helping protect the ditch, stream, or other water receiving the discharge. Norweco AT 1500 UV system

A UV alarm can indicate a lamp fault or weak output, depending on the model. For example, the Norweco AT 1500 can signal an alarm when UV output drops below the level the unit needs for proper disinfection. Your drains may still work normally and the discharged water may look clear. The alarm is your signal that the disinfection step needs attention. Norweco AT 1500 alarm and monitoring details

Call your service provider promptly for a UV alarm. Have the lamp and unit serviced on the manufacturer’s schedule and follow the requirements for your permitted system. Keeping up with both wastewater treatment and UV disinfection helps limit the germs released downstream.

If you’re in the Moore’s Septic Services area and your septic alarm is going off, call 740-415-7760. Get help by symptom