Septic & Sewage Pump Failure FAQs

Q&A on Sewage or Septic Pump Failures

Sewage / Septic Pump Failure FAQs

Also see SEWAGE PUMP DAMAGE & REPAIR

When we lose power sewage backs up into our house from the septic tank and our always-on septic pumps keep burning up.

Hi there. My family and I desperately need help! We had a holding tank with leeching field installed by a professional while building our new home.

We have an electric pump in the holding tank which runs 24/7. Literally! If for some reason we loose power to the house, our sewer backs up into our basement.

This has happened since we first moved in. The first time it happened I called an emergency tank pump, and they said there was hardly anything in the tank. We have tried to have it repaired, but nobody will help us.

Our pumps burn out every few months due to continuous running. Any suggestions? On 2016-07-30 by Bee

Answer by (mod)

Bee

It sounds as if the control, wiring, pump or another component is either improperly installed or is defective and needs repair or replacement.

It's also possible that the wrong type of pump is installed (aerobic septic pumps are designed to run 24/7 but pumps that move effluent from tank to drainfield or mound are not).

It's also possible that you have an effluent pump that runs continuously because it can't lower the effluent level enough in the septic tank because a pipe is blocked or the drainfield is flooded and needs replacement.

So we need a septic contractor on-site to look at your system and sort out the problem as I outlined (or they may of course see something else)

If none of the repair people youve contacted will help inspect, diagnose, and repair the problem then you will need to look further to find a competent repair service close to your home.

Also search InspectApedia for SEWAGE PUMPS to read details about how these pumps work, how they are controlled, and to see common problems, diagnostic step and solutions.

Watch out: DO NOT try to work on a septic tank yourself; simply leaning over an open tank or falling into one can be fatal.

Daniel Friedman

by Anonymous

Hi Bee,
My pump was also running 24/7 and my pump also burned up. The guy who replaced it told me that there was no back flow preventer installed. So once water was pumped out it would flow right back into the tank again. There's about 200 ft to my leach bed so that much water was flowing right back in. Worth checking out.

Answer by (mod)

Excellent point, Anon. A check valve or "backflow preventer" is useful on any sewage or septic effluent pump that has to deliver wastewater uphill and as you say, that'll reduce the amount of pump cycling and extend the pump life.

But

Watch out: Backflow can also send water back into a pumping station if the drainfield itself is flooded or in failure.

Sewage pump failures have cost us thousands of dollars in repairs

Question we live in county and sewer company made builder put in grinder pump. He put it in front yard. In five years since putting in hascost ten thousand dollars in repairs.

Builder went out of business. Now our sewer pump needs to be replaced. The ground around it is sinking in. Have you any suggestions? My sister has limited income since husband passed away. On 2018-07-13 by Anonymous

by (mod) - recommendation about choosing the right type of pump

Truly I can't make a specific referral, not only in order to avoid a conflict of interest but because we don't even know the country and city where you live.

In any case you want to work with local septic or excavator contractors who have experience with installing grinder pumps. Or you may find a plumber who can handle the excavation work.

I wouldn't start anything before getting an accurate diagnosis of what's happened to the present installation. It sounds as if the excavation and backfill may have been improper.

OPINION: I suspect that the original installation was improper; One of the most common sewage pump mistakes is installing the wrong type of pump - one that is not capable of handling solids in wastewater. If someone put in a simple ejector pump it will clog and fail frequently if it's being sent solid waste say from toilets. And if someone kept replacing the failed pump with the wrong thype, that couild explain the repeated failures. - Daniel Friedman

 

Will CLR toilet bowl stain remover harm a sewage effluent pump?

Is the use of CLR to clean a toilet bowl safe for a septic grinder pump? On 2018-06-19 by Greg

Reply by (mod) -

Greg,

Your effect of using CLR toilet bowl stain remover on a sewage effluent pump or a septic grinder pump is an excellent one.

Some authorities warn that acids or other chemicals might harm a septic system (I agree), and some chemicals may harm the seals in the grinder pump system.

However I pose that occasional use of a toilet stain remover (often including acids), used as directed, will be diluted enough to avoid such harm. You can reduce the risk of grinder or effluent pump damage further by additional dilution of the acid-based cleaner: try 2 or three additional flushes to dilute and then remove the acidic cleaner from the grinder pump reservoir.

Instructions from CLR for using this product to clean a severely-stained toilet bowl, the company suggests using 5-6 oz of CLR into a toilet bowl that has been emptied of water, then scrubbing the bowl with the solution.

At that level of usage and when further diluted by water as the toilet is flushed, even in the first flush the 6 oz. of solution (hazardous acidic) is diluted in 1-2 gallons of water or more (depending on toilet design and flush quantity).

In even a single gallon flush you are diluting the solution by 6:128 and subsequent flushes further dilute the solution.

In three flushes or 3 gallons total, you have diluted the original acidic CLR cleaner to 1% of its original strength. Even without knowing the actual level of acidity of the product as sold in the container, this is likely to be so dilute as to be harmless to the pump.

The product, used as directed, is in my opinion harmless to a septic grinder pump as well as harmless to a septic system.

For other readers, CLR is a calcium, lime, rust remover "from glassware, tile and coffee pots. It removes lime scale from shower heads, tubs, humidifiers, toilets and sinks. This CLR cleaner also removes rust stains from stucco, brick, porcelain and chrome." contains the following chemicals:

Water CAS 7732-18-5,

Lactic Acid CAS 79-33-4, classified by OSHA as hazardous

Gluconic Acid CAS 526-95-4, classified by OSHA as hazardous

Lauramine Oxide CAS 1643-20-5, classified by OSHA as hazardous

Tripropylene Glycol N-Butyl Ether CAS 55934-93-5,

Blue 1 CAS 3844-45-9,

Yellow 5 CAS 1934-21-0.

CLR is produced by Jelmar, 5550 W. Touhy Ave. Skokie, IL 60077 USA

See the MSDS for CLR at inspectapedia.com/hazmat/CLR-Calcium-Lime-Rust-Remover-MSDS.pdf

The MSDS for CLR includes this

Emergency Overview: WARNING: EYE IRRITATANT. GHS Toxicity Category 2A Causes eye irritation and possible SKIN IRRITATANT GHS Category 3 – on sensitive skin.

DO NOT get in eyes, on skin or clothing. DO NOT mix with bleach or other household chemicals as harmful fumes may result. DO NOT ingest. DO NOT breathe vapor or mist.

Use in well ventilated areas. Keep container closed when not in use

Please also see TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST

I will also include this discussion at another article you should review: SEWAGE PUMP DAMAGE & REPAIR

Our sewer pump runs backwards after a lightning strike!

Why is my sewer pump going backwards all of a sudden. was working fine. On 2017-02-12 by abe

by (mod) - A lightning strike or a failed start capacitor can cause a motor to run backwards

A lightning strike or a failed start capacitor can cause a motor to run backwards - see ACCIDENTAL REVERSAL OF ELECTRIC MOTOR RUN DIRECTION - causes

My septic tank pump won't turn on

When I push the test button on my septic tank pumping station the light does not come on nor does the quick alarm sound go off.

I am assuming this means that there is a problem with the pump not getting power. Any advice on how to go about testing to try to figure out what would cause this? On 2016-11-11 by Shelly Plemons

by (mod) - test button on pumping station

Start by confirming that the pump and controls have power.

That means that the circuit breaker or fuse for the pump circuit, in your electrical panel, is on and that your electrician has confirmed that there is live power at the pump control box.

Then let me know the brand and model of the equipment so that you (by finding your pump at SEWAGE PUMP BUYERS GUIDE & MANUALS) or I can find the septic pump control instruction manual, since switches and controls and features vary by manufacturere and model.

See SEPTIC PUMP ALARM SYSTEMS