Aerobic Septic System Diagnostic FAQs

ATU Maintenance FAQs
ATU Media Filter Q&A
ATU Sprinkler Heads Q&A

Aerobic Septic System Maintenance FAQs

Tip: See AEROBIC SEPTIC MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES

How to find out how our aerobic septic works and maintenance it needs - is it even working?

We just moved to a place with a aerobic system and dont know any thing about them if the sprinkler heads are broke will it cause the light to come on ? On 2016-09-15 by K

Reply by (mod) -

K

Outside there should be a control box, possibly with a red light on it, that marks the location of your septic tank and key controls. On that device look for a tag, sticker label that identifies the brand and model of your system and find the local company who installed or maintains it;

I'd ask them to review the system, its condition, needs, and to tell you what regular maintenance it requires.

And yes the sprinkler head need to work; you may be about to see a backup if effluent can't be disposed-of.

Wrong washing machine detergent causing foam in my septic system & alarm sounds

My aeration company says I have a build up of bubbles/foam in my ATU system due to using the wrong clothing detergent. I have switched detergents but the alarm is still going off. How can I get rid of this? On 2013-03-12 by M. Berry

Reply by (mod) - if the septic tank had a lot of soap

M. Berry,

Just guessing, but if the septic tank had a lot of soap, enough to cause a problem with soap bubbles and foam in the ATU, just changing the detergent won't immediately cure the problem. I'd pump the septic tank and start over.

Dan K Haitian

Indeed like all great lies, the sales pitch you heard may be another, containing a grain of truth. There are systems to increase the oxygen level in ATUs - that's what a pump and aerator are doing. But unless the MANUFACTURER of your ATU system tells you that a product is required, I'd have skipped it.

Worse, paying $1,500 for a single dose of a treatment that was poured into the system sounds extremely suspicious to me, possibly even fraudulent. Not to mention you never even saw the product applied.

Ask your technician to give you the name of the treatment product he (claims to have) used. We could at least figure out what the heck that is.

Technician said I need to buy more oxygen for $1500 for my aerobic septic system

I previously got my system pumped out however my technician also persuade me to buy this oxidation for $1500 to put more oxygen in my system.

I feel like I spent the $1500 in vain because I don't think I really need it.

He first said my system is in working order but said my system needs more oxygen.

Before he pour the solution, he told me to go flush my toilet twice and when I came back, he was closing my system.

So I'm not sure if he even put that solution in my system. Can someone help me? I really feel like the guy took advantage of me and make me paid for something I did not need. On 2013-01-28 by dankhaitian

Reply by (mod) - find a different septic contractor

While it's true that some aerobic septic systems require additional chemicals (disinfectants or other), the oxygen in an aerobic septic treatment unit is provided by an aerator pump that bubbles air through the treatment tank - the air is the oxygen source.

You should not need to buy $1,500 oxygen or oxidizing agents ("oxidation").

Watch out: OPINION: this sounds suspicious to me, too. Call a different aerobic septic system maintenance company and let me know what they have to say.

Mo-Dad Aerobic system sludge layer: is it normal?

I have an aerobic treatment system. It is a Mo-Dad 1 500gpd system. I'll start by saying I have absolutely no problems or issues. System is 5 years old. Prior to 6 months ago, the few times I opened the cap, I noticed black water.

About 6 months ago, I noticed a layer of scum/sludge and no visible water is seen. Forward to now, I still see the same sludgy layer on top and no visible water.

I'm in South Louisiana so no drain field, treated water flows directly out of a pipe into the drainage ditch along the road in front of the house. This is working properly.

Is this layer of sludge normal on the top of the tank? Installer/seller of the system told me it should always look like black swampy water inside and no layer on top with these systems. My father's same system is 18 years old and has never been pumped out and he has never had any issues.

He sees the same layer on top of his tank.

Should I be concerned? Should I try any enzymes in attempt to help treat this scum layer on top? Far as I know, the aerator pump is working. On 2016-09-12 by Dre

Reply by (mod) -

Dre:

It's possible that the sewage treatment level in your system has deteriorated. I would be concerned enough to talk with the manufacturer about the system, its evaluation, condition, and maintenance requirements.

I'd want to know that the aerator is working properly, and that any post-treatment or disinfection system is working properly.

This PDF gives some information about the operation of your system and it gives contact information for a Mo-Dad Aerobic Septic system company in Louisiana.

see this helpful guide from Mo-Dad:

• MO-DAD SYSTEMS: WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW DO THEY WORK? [PDF] MO-DAD 1, INC LLC , P.O. Вoх 96, Denham Springs, LA. 70727 USA Tel: (225) 665-2949 / Ted Hebert, 14430 Brown Rd., Baker, LA. Tel: (225) 261-1015

Watch out: I would NOT just try any septic treatment or additive, though Mo-Dad does recommend two additive products: use one that they recommend.

Aerobic Septic Media Filter FAQs

Aerobic Septic "media" came loose and floated to the top requiring me to shut off the pump until it floated back down. 20 year old aerobic septic.

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 2016-08-15 by JeanneJ

by Moderator

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 going.

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.

Aerobic Septic System Sprinklers FAQs

Tip: See AEROBIC SEPTIC EFFLUENT SPRAY HEAD REPAIR

Aerobic sprinklers won't go off after a winter storm

My electricity and water was off during the winter storm for 4 days. Now, my sprinklers are not going off when they typically do such as after a bath and I have been manually lifting the float. The aerator seems to be working fine. On 2021-02-21 by Kate

Reply by (mod) -

@Kate,

See

FROZEN AEROBIC SEPTIC or WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM - Current US Freeze Problems & Help

offers some advice that should help out. Please take a look.

If the problem isn't one of freezing then most-likely the float assembly is sticking or the float switch has failed.

My aerobic septic system sprinklers are frozen

My sprinklers are frozen over on my system how can i thaw them out to prevent tank getting too full On 2021-02-15 by dobie

by (mod) - Tips for thawing a frozen aerobic septic effluent pumping line

Dobie

I was afraid of the frozen aerobic septic sprinkler problem in other posts we've been seeing; here in Minnesota it's ben -23 degF for days so I appreciate chilly weather myself.

Often what's frozen in a water piping system is just a specific section exposed to draft, blowing freezing air, or to a particularly cold spot ( a pipe not buried below the frost line).

So you might get lucky by detailed visual inspection, and might try blowing a hair dryer (nothing too hot or you damage the piping or controls) on points you can access and suspect are frozen.

The freezing problem is worse when temperatures are quite low and buried piping is not protected by snow-cover .

A much complicated process for thawing buried frozen pipes was demonstrated to me by a Poughkeepsie well driller/plumber decades ago. In that case well pipes ran above the frost line because of the presence of bedrock that was close to the surface. The lines between well and house froze.

The plumber set up a metal tub over a burner, heated the water, and used a pony pump to push hot water through a tube into the water pipe.

Hot water was sent through the tubing and flowed back out of the open end of the same well pipe into the metal tub where it could be re-heated and re-cycled into the pipe.

Gradually the plumber pushed the hot water tube further and further into the piping as she melted her way past the frozen section to get water flowing again.

The longer-term solution was to better-insulate the buried piping along the section where it was exposed to freezing, and to be sure water was run often enough to keep the system live during cold weather.

And of course your aerobic septic effluent pumping lines prefer to be sloped so as to drain out or drain back to the tank so as never to be left with standing water in freezing conditions.

At way below freezing temperature our aerobic septic is not working and sewage backs up into toilets

Aerobic system getting blow back in the toilet when we flush. 2 degrees outside On 2021-02-15 by Joan Newalla

Reply by (mod) -

Joan,

Take a look at

Tips for thawing a frozen aerobic septic effluent pumping line

are given for Betsy just below: let me know if that helps

Our aerobic sprinklers have ice on them, what do I do?

We are having record lows for a record number of days and there is ice on top of at least one of the sprinkler heads. What should I do? On 2021-02-18 by Betsy

Reply by (mod) -

Betsy

FROZEN AEROBIC SEPTIC or WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM - Current US Freeze Problems & Help

offers a summary of my advice and has links to more-detailed help

What happens when my aerobic septic system sprinkler heads freeze?

What happens when my sprinkler heads freeze for 2 weeks due to very cold weather? On 2021-02-17 by Bill

by (mod) - types of aerobic sprinkler damage in freezing weather

Bill:

Depending on the volume of wastewater produced in the building served by your aerobic septic system you may cause the pumping chamber to over-fill, setting off a high-water alarm;

There is also a risk of cracked, broken sprinkler heads and piping that will need replacement when things thaw out a bit.

Aerobic sprinklers stopped working this winter

Aerobic Septic System Was inspected almost 3 yrs ago and emptied 2yr ago. The man said it has a double tank?

But lately my two sprinklers have not been going off and today after I flushed the toilet I heard a “plop” sound. Can you tell me what may need to be done. I am not familiar with this as I had not had an Aerobic Septic System ever before.
Desperate for advice.
Thanks pfeg04@yahoo.com On 2021-02-18 by Priscilla

by (mod) - temporary advice

Sharon and Priscilla

Given the freezing temperatures across much of the U.S. South we have been receiving quite a few reports of frozen aerobic septic system components.

I suspect that in normally-warm climates where freezing wasn't a worry, septic installers probably don't install aerobic piping and components to be freeze-proof.

Sometimes we can find an obvious freeze-risk part such as a pipe that's above ground, and can thaw it using a hair dryer. (Take care not to use open flame torches lest you damage the piping or cause a fire.)

You don't give your location but in your cases, too, "abnormally cold "- may mean that aerobic septic effluent piping or spray heads are frozen. If so you won't get the system working until temperatures warm; Then you will want to check for broken spray heads that may need replacement.

Until temperatures rise and frozen septic components thaw, make the absolute minimum use possible of water and thus wastewater production so as to avoid flooding your aerobic septic tanks or worse, causing a sewage backup into the building.

These articles might be of some help

CAMPING & EMERGENCY USE TOILETS

CHEMICAL TOILETS

DISASTER ZONE TOILET GUIDE

Aerobic effluent sprinklers never coming on

I have a new aerobic system just installed the pump has been on and two tanks are almost full but the tank that is suppose to set sprinklers off is only to the bottom ball. The sprinklers have never come on in 2 weeks. (Oct 28, 2015) Jan

Reply:

Jan as virtually all packaged ATU systems include inspection, maintenance, and repair for the first two years, I'd give your installer a call to ask what's up with your system.

You need to be taught how to inspect and operate the system or at the very least how to know if it's working properly. If the installer didn't do that, insist that they do.

Keep me posted.

Why aren't our septic effluent sprinkler heads popping up and spraying water?

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. On 2016-12-10 by Billie

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

Aerobic sprinkler head leak diagnosis

I have an aerobic system, less than a year old. When it’s not pumping I have 1 sprinkler head that just trickles all the time. Is this normal? It never dries out and has become pretty nasty On 2020-05-02 by Brandon

- by (mod) -

No, Brandon, when the sprinklers are "off", the head should stop flowing, or at most, after a small residual volume of water in the head and effluent pipe serving the head trickles out for a minute or so the head should stop.

If the aerobic head continues to leak, I suspect that effluent is siphoning by gravity and/or there is a defective valve or check valve in the system.

Sprinkler heads on my aerobic system are just trickling: clogged?

Sprinkler heads are pumping out at a trickle. Any idea why ? On 2016-05-06 by Henry

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.

Tell me why one aerobic septic sprinkler head leaks when the system is off

Out of the five (5) sprinkler heads on my aerobic system I have only one (1) head which leaks when the system is off. This issue did not start until my pump went out and continues even after I installed a new pump.

Any ideas what is causing this to happen? I'm in the process of replacing the sprinkler head to see if this issue goes away. I will let you know the outcome of the replaced sprinkler head. On 2023-01-20 by Jim Martin

by InspectApedia Publisher -

@Jim Martin,

Sure, for example if piping slopes down from a water source and the sprinkler head is jammed, it's check valve function or on-off valve function may fail and thus the head may leak.

Horses broke two aerobic septic sprinkler heads: how do I find them

During the winter, my horses knocked over two of my sprinkler heads. With the rain and erosion, the sites have been buried and I cannot not locate them. Any suggestions on how to locate the sprinkler site so I may repair it? On 2012-06-03 by Kevin

Reply: Tips for finding septic effluent sprinkler heads

If you do not have an original installation drawing for your aerobic septic systerm and the sprinkler head locations, what's left is

1. With the effluent discharge pump running and possibly sending water through the effluent distribution piping, look for a wet area without a sprinkler head, or use a water pipe tracing tool to try to follow the effluent line; If that doesn't get you to the missing sprinkler heads
2. Look at the existing sprinkler heads, note their lineup and spacing distance to see if that locates the two missing sprinkler heads
3. Last resort: start excavating at the septic effluent pumping tank end to follow the actual pipeline

Aerobic septic sprinklers stopped working and just leak

My aerobic septic system is not working right. The sprinklers basically just leak all the time instead of spraying.

The sprinklers are downhill from the tanks. I had the tanks pumped out (1st time in 6 years) and the sprinklers are still not spraying. Any clues? On 2012-05-01 by Kenneth Skoczlas

by (mod) - pumping the aerobic tank won't fix the sprinkler heads or piping

Kenneth, if an aerobic sprinkler is leaking, it's not going to be fixed one iota by pumping the septic tank. More likely fittings or gaskets or sprinkler heads need replacement.

An aerobic septic sprinkler head stopped spinning and just sprays in one direction.

@InspectApedia-911,

I had a sprinkler head stop spinning recently and only sprays in a single direction. Could that have an impact or is it likely unrelated. On 2022-10-02 by Pete

by InspectApedia-911 (mod)

@Pete,

Sounds like a possible clue. IF the sprinkler head rotates freely bty hand, why don't you explore there to see if there's a broken or leaking line so that not enough effluent is reaching the sprinkler head.

Aerobic septic sprinklers have been spraying for only about 30 seconds at a time

My septic sprinklers have been spraying for only about 30 seconds at a time starting a few days ago.

30 seconds on, 30 seconds off, 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off….. until the tank empties.

Any suggestions? On 2022-10-02 by Pete

Reply by InspectApedia-911 (mod) -

@Pete,

That's your sounds like a control board problem or a line blockage problem combined with a low pressure sensor that's turning off the sprinklers intermittently.

Aerobic septic sprinklers are not going off at the right time

My sprinklers are set to run from 1-3 am. Recently they have started going off around 7pm. Timer is on time and I can activate the sprinklers from the timer, but the only way to turn them off when they kick in at 7 is to turn the breaker off. On 2022-08-20 by Davie

by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - timer may be defective or not programmed correctly

@Davie,

That sure sounds to me as if the timer itself is either defective or not programmed as you thought.

Cycling the circuit breaker on and off may be resetting a timer but I'd look for a failed timer control unit.

Sprinklers on aerobic septic go crazy when it rains

We have had a lot of rain in the last coupler of days, our sprinklers in our aerobic septic system seem to be going off a lot, by a lot I mean they usually run twice per day. The last couple of days they have gone off at least 10 times. What would be causing this? We have not increased our water usage at all. On 2021-05-02 by Kenneth Davis

by danjoefriedman (mod) - septic system goes off more in rainy weather

@Kenneth Davis,

Watch out: I would look for problem of surface runoff or subsurface water leaking into the septic tank or pumping chamber

Aerobic septic sprinklers spraying a lot more when it rains.

I just had an aerobic tank installed with 2 sprinklers about 6 months ago. I hardly ever notice them spraying unless it rains. Then I catch them going multiple times a day. Seems a bit excessive. On 2021-05-23 by L.W.

by (mod) -

@L.W.,

Watch out: That sounds as if water leaks into your septic tank in wet weather. Flooding the tank can cause a sewage backup into your home and may indicate an effluent distribution system failure as well.

Aerobic sprinklers not working after heavy rain

My sprinklers have little pressure coming out. We have had a lot of rain in the area could this be the problem. On 2019-03-03 by Anonymous

by (mod) - more reasons the aerobic sprinkler system may not be working

Anon

Perhaps the rain could be fouling up your aerobic sprinkler dispersal system in a way that I've not encountered, but more-likely the problem is

- a valve that's not open

- a sprinkler line that's clogged

- damaged, broken sprinkler heads

- a sprinkler pump that is not working

Neighbor's aerobic sprinklers spray into our yard

I have a neighbor whose sprinklers are shooting water across the property line into our yard (starting just recently). What would cause this?On 2021-03-08 by TJ

Reply by (mod) -

@TJ, perhaps sprinkler head adjustment, damage, or a pressure change.

Aerobic septic system sprinkler head leaks constantly

My system keeps leaking from the lowest head continuously. it only stops if you switch the manual to off. when you turn it back on later, the heads spray. after they stop it starts leaking again, continuously. On 2020-04-03 by rick

Answer by (mod) -

Rick

A continuous leak at a low sprinkler head could be due to siphoning effluent out of the pumping chamber - telling us we may need a check valve or control valve installed or repaired to stop siphoning effluent when the pump is off.

Or the sprinkler head itself may need replacaement if it's not spraying, just trickling, when the effluent pump is running.

That's just a guess as I don't know a thing about your aerobic system.

by rick

thanks. I think you might be right. I talked to the system maintenance guy two days ago, and he told me I needed a new sprinkler head.

It didn't make any sense to me but I got a new one. The old one was a little clogged, and now the new one leaks much better. I'll call them tomorrow and ask about the siphoning and check valve. .thanks again.

How do I test if my aerobic septic sprinklers are working ?

Not sure if my units sprinklers are functioning? How can I check? On 2019-04-13 by Joe Flores

by (mod) - float-operated pumping chamber check for sprinklers not working

Joe

Depending on your aerobic septic system design, there ought to be a float-operated pumping chamber - when effluent level rises (or by timer control) a pump turns on to send effluent to the sprinklers.

Inspect the level in the float chamber - if it's high enough that the float is up and the pump is running then effluent ought to be coming out of sprinkler heads.

If the float or effluent levels are up near top of the chamber (the float may be submerged at that point) and the pump doesn't turn on then there's a pump or electrical problem

Rain Bird 5000 aerobic septic system sprayer seeps water continuously

One of our Rain Bird 5000 sprayers seeps water continuously. It is at a foot or two lower elevation.

Neither switching nor replacement of the whole rotor stops the flow. Pushing the head down or twisting to I'll left stop only reduces the seepage. Ideas? On 2017-08-14 by Richard Poore -

by (mod) - Rain Bird Corporation aerobic septic contact information

Richard,

If your Rain Bird 5000 series spray head is the "Plus" model, there is a center screw opening/slot that is used to turn the flow of water on or off. A screwdriver simply turns the slotted screw 180 degrees clockwise to turn OFF the flow of water.

If you have a standard RainBird 5000 spray head it sounds as if an internal check valve is broken or the valve body is cracked and needs replacement. Before replacing it, though, give the company a call to see if their experts have other advice. And do let us know what you're told as that will help other readers.

You didn't give a location (we have readers world wide) so I'll paste in all of the company's contact information

Rain Bird Corporation
6991 E. Southpoint Rd., Bldg. #1
Tucson, AZ 85706 USA
Phone: (520) 741-6100
Fax: (520) 741-6522

Rain Bird Corporation
970 W. Sierra Madre
Azusa, CA 91702 USA
Phone: (626) 812-3400
Fax: (626) 812-3411

Rain Bird International, Inc.
145 North Grand Avenue
Glendora, CA 91741 USA
Phone: (626) 963-9311
Fax: (626) 963-4287

Rain Bird Technical Service
(800) 247-3782 (USA & Canada only)
www.rainbird.com

Rain Bird Europe S.A.R.L.
900 Rue Ampère, BP 72000
13792 AIX-EN PROVENCE CEDEX 3
FRANCE
Tél. : (33) 04 42 24 44 61
Fax : (33) 04 42 24 24 72

Rain Bird Deutschland GmbH
Siedlerstraße 46
71126 Gaüfelden - Nebringen
Deutschland
Tel : 07032 - 9901 - 0
Fax : 07032 - 9901 - 11

Rain Bird Iberica S.A.
Pol. Ind. Prado del Espino
C/Forjadores, Parc. 6, M18, S1
28660 Boadilla del Monte-MADRID
España
Tél. : (34) 916 324 810
Fax : (34) 916 324 645
www.rainbird.fr

Rain Bird Sweden
PL 345 (Fleninge)
260 35 Ödåkra
Sweden
Tel : (46) 042 20 58 50
Fax : (46) 042 20 40 65

Rain Bird Turkey
‹stiklal Mahallesi,
Alemda Caddesi, No 262
81240 Ümraniye ‹stanbul
Turkey
Phone: (90) 216 443 75 23
Fax (90) 216