Septic alarm going off? Here's what to do

A beeping box on a post in the yard, or a panel on the side of the house, usually means one thing: the water level in a pump tank or treatment tank is higher than it should be. Not every septic system has an alarm. You'll find them on systems that use a pump to move wastewater (common where the drainfield sits uphill or far from the house) and on most alternative treatment systems.

Most alarms are a warning, not an emergency. Here's how to tell which one you have.

General guidance only. Your system's manufacturer instructions and your maintenance provider come first. Never open a septic tank or pump chamber yourself. The gases inside can be deadly.

Do these things first

1. Silence the alarm if your panel has a silence button. It's usually labeled "silence" or "push to test." This stops the noise but doesn't fix the problem. On most panels the warning light stays on.
2. Cut back on water right away. Hold off on laundry, dishwashing, long showers and baths. Every gallon you use goes into a tank that's already too full.
3. Check the breaker box. Septic pumps and control panels are often on their own circuit. A tripped breaker means the pump can't run, so the tank fills up. Reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off and call for service.
4. Check for a tripped GFCI outlet that feeds the panel or pump, and reset it.
5. Wait a few hours. If heavy rain or a big laundry day caused it, the level may drop and the alarm may clear by itself once the pump catches up.

Steps 2 through 5 follow guidance from septic equipment manufacturer Premier Tech Aqua.

What usually causes it

• A tripped breaker or GFCI. The easiest fix. See steps 3 and 4.
• Too much water at once. Several loads of laundry, guests in the house, or a leaking toilet running all day.
• Heavy rain or high groundwater. After big storms, water in the ground can seep into tanks and saturate drainfields.
• A failed pump or float switch. The pump wears out, or the float that tells it to turn on gets stuck.
• A clogged effluent filter, if your system has one.
• A drainfield that's no longer accepting water. The most serious cause, often after years without pumping.

When to call right away

Call a septic service company now, not tomorrow, if:

• The alarm comes back after you reset the breaker, or never clears after a few hours of light water use
• The breaker trips again after you reset it
• Drains in the house are slow or gurgling, or a toilet won't flush normally
• Sewage is backing up into a tub, shower or floor drain
• You see wet, soggy ground or smell sewage near the tank or drainfield

If sewage is backing up into the house, stop using water entirely and keep children and pets away from the area. Don't clean up raw sewage without gloves and protective gear. See septic problems and backups for more.

If you have an alternative treatment system

Some Suffolk homes, especially where soils are poor, have alternative (advanced) treatment systems with aerators, pumps and control panels. Virginia requires these systems to have regular maintenance by a licensed operator. Your maintenance provider is usually the first call when the alarm sounds, because they know the system. See alternative septic systems in Suffolk.

Don't ignore a repeat alarm

An alarm that keeps coming back is the system telling you something is wearing out. Catching a bad float switch or tired pump early is a much smaller bill than a backed-up house or a flooded drainfield.