Aerobic septic system repair FAQs:

Questions and answers about diagnosing and fixing problems that occur in aerobic septic systems, aeration septic systems or fine-bubble septic aerators.

At this website are designs and products for aerobic septic treatment units (ATUs) for onsite waste disposal, also called fine bubble aeration systems. We address aerobic septic system design, features, inspection, repair, and maintenance. Product sources are also listed.

Aerobic Treatment Unit Problems

Recently posted questions & answers about aerobic septic system troubleshooting & repair. Be sure to see AEROBIC ATU SEPTIC PROBLEMS - home.

 

Question: what kind of aerobic system do I want

2019/08/11 JD said

I don't know - what do i want? i'm trying to determine exactly what i need for my septic system.

i have done a lot of research and i am a capable DIYer.

I studied control systems in college and i know i want a "sprinkler system" instead of a drain field. i, of course, want a functional system that's not over built.

i've seen "3-tank systems"; solids/settling flows into a clarifer/sanitizing tank and finally into a pump-out which feeds into a sprinkler system.

however, on this site i found a much simpler tank system...but no dimensions or pump-out tank.

plz help! i need a clear picture of what i need! i know i can buy all the parts online but i am not finding clear step-by-step design details...here's the pic i found on this site

Reply:

JD

Septic Design Basics

I am doubtful that you can simply buy some components and install a septic system arbitrarily based on what appeals to you.

Worse, while I respect the DIY initiative and spirit, the fatal flaw is that you don't know, in fact don't even have the slightest glimmer of don't knowing, just what it is that you don't know. The risk is a costly DIY septic system that doesn't work, contaminates the environment, pollutes local wells and waterways, puts occupants at health risk, and is illegal to boot.

A septic system design must first be informed by:

1. the type and size of dwelling it serves, the number of occupants, and ultimately the anticipated daily and peak wastewater outflows to the septic system

2. the size, shape, location of the land into which the septic system will be installed

3. the soil properties such as percolation rate in the area where effluent is to be dispersed

4. local sanitary or health regulations and ultimately just what your local building or health department officials will accept as a suitable septic design.

My advice is

1. Consult your local officials to ask what permits and inspections are required to install a septic system

2. Consult a local septic design engineer to help you with soil testing, septic site area properties, and thus to give you an idea what system designs can possibly work on your site.

3. Based on that work, perhaps with help from your engineer, make a septic design that you then take to your local officials for approval.

4. With an approved septic plan, AND an OK from local officials for a DIY installation (not permitted in some juridictions where a license may be required) you can decide if you are capable of operating excavation equipment, proper trench grading construction, and installation of septic piping, tank, D-box, distribution piping etc.

To simply latch onto a "type" of septic effluent disposal system that's appealing and dig holes and plop stuff into the ground would be, in my opinion, a big mistake.

For Aerobic septic tank sizing

see AEROBIC ATU SEPTIC TANK SIZES

To become familiar with the basic terms and requirements for an onsite septic system you should read

HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

and

SEPTIC SYSTEM BASICS

On 2019-02-02 by (mod) - agitator running 100% of the time?

In most designs, yes the aerator pump runs continuously.

Aerobic pumps use very little electricity.

Example: The Cyclone SSX80 Aerobic Septic Pump aerator pump uses a 120VAC 60 cycle motor drawing 1.9A or consuming 92 Watts/hour.

E(kWh/day) = P(W) × t(h/day) / 1000(W/kW)

Running 92W/hr x 24-hours/day = 2208 watt-hours/day - that's 2.208 KWH or kilowatt hours.

Using a typical energy cost from Minnesota as an example:
Energy Charge per kWh is $0.04711

That's $1.04 U.S. / day of operation or about $380. / year

On 2019-02-02 by Brent

With an aerobic agitator system, is the agitator running 100% of the time? Can you give me a general figure as to power consumption ?

On 2018-09-20 by Dave

Whats smallest area to fit one in? I have almost no space

On 2017-06-16 by James

I have a jet aerator system. It seems the sand filter was bypassed. Verified by a company. Does this cause any problems to the operation of the system? Is the outflow still clean, or is this a violation of some possible health code? I live in Ohio.

On 2016-08-15 by Anonymous - "media" came loose and floated to the top requiring me to shut off the pump until it floated back down.

Jeanne

You must be one of the minority who read and followed the system instructions to get 20 years of life from your aerobic ATU. Nice.

Depending on the specific ATU brand and model, some media is fragile and can even be damaged by pumping. Before guessing at repair (or more likely replacement) cost you'd need to know the brand and model of aerobic system you've got installed, as what the manufacturers want varies.

Aerobic treatment unit media in some ATU tanks is replaced by emptying the tank and removing old, installing new components: that requires at least opening a center access over the media chamber.

DO NOT try to enter or even lean over a septic tank - the results can be fatal asphyxiation or worse.

A WILD GUESS at septic media cost (since we have no idea which system you have installed) quotes a synthetic aerobic septic tank media from a Chinese supplier at $200 to $400 (wholesale) per cubic meter of media. IN other words the cost is going to be in the labor and that's going to be affected by cost of access - excavation, backhoe if needed &c.

Granular septic media is used in some designs as is sand in some final polishing stages.

Cloth media filters such as AquaDiamond® cloth media are used in municipal systems and are probably not what you need.

On 2016-08-15 by JeanneJ

I have a system running for about 20 years.

It has been serviced regularly but this winter the "media" came loose and floated to the top requiring me to shut off the pump until it floated back down.

This happened twice in about 6 months and I have had not problems recently. What does this mean and how costly is it to repair? Does my yard need to be excavated to repair it?

On 2016-05-17 by (mod) - if your septic aerator is not working

I don't know, Debbie, but if your aerator is not working on your aerobic septic system then the system is in self-destruct mode and needs a prompt repair.

On 2016-05-16 by Debbie

Is it ok to run my nayadic pump when the air system not working

On 2016-05-08 by (mod) - if your aerator is not working

Henry

If we are talking about an aerobic sprinkler system for septic effluent disposal, and if the bad flow is at all of the sprinkler heads, and if there is plenty of effluent in the tank, I suspect the pump is getting low voltage, is failing, or there is a kink or break in the sprinkler piping.

On 2016-05-06 by Henry

Sprinkler heads are pumping out at a trickle. Any idea why?

On 2016-05-02 by Anonymous

what kind of bleach do you put in system

On 2016-12-11 by (mod) - low pressure or aerobic system piping leaks or damaged pump keeps sprinkler heads from popping up

I would look for a leak in the piping system or a damaged pump or pump impeller, or low voltage to the pump

On 2016-12-10 by Billie

My husband noticed our sprinkler heads weren't popping up and spraying water, it wasn't getting enough pressure to the sprinklers to work properly.. He replace the effluent pump and it is still doing the same thing. Any ideals on what might be wrong.

Our aerobic system is about ten years old and we have had it pumped twice and have regular maintenance done. Thank you

On 2016-10-25 by (mod) - drip rate setting for aerobic system

Good questions, Craig. I'd start by looking at the aerobic system documentation, manual, or labeling on the pump and equipment to identify the manufacturer as the specific settings are going to be equipment and design-specific. If you can find any identifying information and send it along (page bottom CONTACT link) I'll be glad to help with that research.

On 2016-10-25 by Craig

I have an aerobic system with a liquid bleach chlorinator which was designed to drip at a fixed rate directly into the holding tank, from which effluent is pumped to the sprinkler system. It consists of a capped reservoir of bleach, which is suspended in the inspection/service riser of the holding tank.

Screwed into the bottom of the reservoir is a two-part nozzle - tightening the two parts together reduces the rate at which bleach passes through them, to fall into the tank below.

This drip nozzle was clogged, and I have cleaned it. However, I now must re-set the drip rate. This design drips the same amount of bleach regardless of how often the discharge pumps cycle. It there a standard drip rate for such a system, or is there a formula based on tank size or discharge frequency?

Finally, there is no vent passage to allow air past the reservoir cap. It appears likely that tightly capping the reservoir would prevent any dripping at all. Is air supposed to enter via the drip nozzle?

On 2016-10-23 by (mod) - age of an aerobic septic pump & effect of leaky spray heads

Brenda:

1. Age of septic pump: installation & maintenance records, a note on the pump manual, or the month and year of manufacture encoded in the pump motor data tag

2. Not repairing leaky spray heads: failure of the system to properly disperse septic effluent, system failure, wet areas of inadequately-treated sewage effluent, site contamination, inadequate system pressure and thus inadequate dispersal flow of sprayed effluent, system failure

3. Unclear question. Perhaps you refer to risk of electrical short circuit, risking fatal electrocution hazards

On 2016-10-23 by Brenda

I have three questions.
1. How can you determine the age of a aerobic tank pump?

2. What is the effect of not repairing leaking spray heads?

3. What is the effect of not putting spliced wires when installing a new pump in the junction box?

...

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