Septic Alarm FAQs

Q&A on Causes of Septic System Alarms
FAQs on How to turn off & respond to septic system alarms

Causes of Septic or Sewage Pump Alarm Warnings - FAQs

What are the common causes for a septic pump alarm to go off

What are the most common causes a pump tank alarm would go off?

My grinder pump is only 4 yrs old and we are still building, so it does not get that much use. C.S. 8/5/12

Reply:

A competent onsite inspection by an expert usually finds additional clues that help accurately diagnose a problem with a sewage pump such as a defective check valve or a running toilet that keeps filling the reservoir tank.

That said, the alarm sounds when the level in the reservoir reaches a level that means that the primary pump is not working, or in a single pump system, that no pump is working.

So in addition to checking for a running toilet and bad check valve, check that the float switch is properly installed and that its movement is not obstructed.

Why is the septic alarm going off in our new home?

What happens with a new home less then 6 months old and the alarm keeps going off? - Carol 8/18/11

Reply:

Carol, septic pump alarm systems operate on a sensor or float control that monitors wastewater level in the septic tank or pumping chamber.

The idea is that if the level rises above some point, the alarm warns the homeowners that the single pump has failed to start, or if it's a duplex pump system (two pumps) that the first pump didn't work and the second pump has started (the backup pump is doing all the work).

You need to know from the installer what design you have;

Perhaps there is a pump to repair or replace (duplex pump, running off backup) or there is a pump alarm float switch that is not set to the proper level.

Why is my Aeration Type Septic "low air pressure" alarm going off?

My low air pressure alarm is going off on my aerobic system but the aeration pump is running and producing air. Any suggestions? On 2020-07-06 by Stephen Ellis

Reply by (mod) -

I'd start by looking for a blockage. Then check pump condition.

Details are

at AEROBIC SEPTIC ALARM SYSTEMS

American System septic alarms goes off when there is a power surge, how do I fix it?

My American system control box alarms goes off when there is a spike in the house electric and has to be manually shut off. What should I do to fix this problem. I installed this system 15 years ago but this problem just started a couple months ago.

My American system control box alarms after a spike in the house electric. On 2018-01-13 by Anonymous

Reply by (mod) -

If re-setting the alarm does not fix the trouble, it's possible that a power surge has damaged a pump controller.

Septic alarm goes off if the system loses power - goes off if I switch power off and on.

Checked all the floats, everything working fine. Pump ok, high level alarm ok, Q: the alarm goes off if the power goes off to the system.

It has never done this before. If I turn off the breaker, and back on, the alarm sounds until I silence and reset. - Mike 10/13/11

Reply:

Mike in the past when we heard about alarm sounding problems the problem was usually traced to a float that had slipped out of position. As you've checked the floats and wastewater levels I'm afraid it sounds as if there may be as shorted wire. The float is basically a switch that closes to sound the alarm. So I'd check the float switch or the actual wiring.

If you use an ohmmeter and see zero resistance across the wires that are supposed to trigger the alarm, the wires are probably shorted or the switch is stuck.

Also check for a battery-backup alarm system that is intended to warn of loss of power - basically we can't keep using a septic grinder pump very long if there is no electrical power. The usage time buffer depends on the size of the holding tank.

Reader follow-up:

Thanks. I will disc. the float wires and troubleshoot from there.

Reply:

Sounds right, Mike. In fact if you can disconnect the wires at both ends that's another way to check for a short between them enroute.

Why does a grinder pump alarm go off on a seldom used system?

What are the most common causes a pump tank alarm would go off?

My grinder pump is only 4 yrs old and we are still building, so it does not get that much use,. C.S. 8/5/12

Reply:

A competent onsite inspection by an expert usually finds additional clues that help accurately diagnose a problem with a sewage pump such as a defective check valve or a running toilet that keeps filling the reservoir tank.

That said, the grinder pump alarm sounds when the level in the reservoir reaches a level that in turn signifies that the primary pump is not working, or in a single-pump system, that the pump is working and the level of wastewater has reached the level at which the alarm will sound.

So check your plumbing system for:

• a running toilet draining into the toilet or even a running shower or faucet
• ground water or some other water source (A/C condensate?) draining into the grinder pump reservoir
• bad check valve that lets other household wastewater drain back into the grinder pump reservoir

also

• check that the float switch is properly installed and is at the right level

Also see water & flood alarms described at SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMPS

How do I Turn Off the Septic Tank or Pump Alarm? - FAQs

The alarm on my Jet inc. Backwash control panel won't silence

My alarm on my jet inc. Backwash control panel. The reset button will not shut out off. What can I do. It's 11pn can't sleep. Help. On 2020-04-30 by Anonymous

Photo: the author, Daniel Friedman, at Lindan on the Rappahannock river around 1945, still in diapers. Mom said: Is the outhouse occupied? Go out side sonny boy!

by (mod) - septic alarm is now turned off but can we use the toilets?

I'm cautious as i know nothing about your system.

The worry is overflowing toilets into the home.

Safest temporary measure is use toilets if you must, but flush rarely.

See AEROBIC SEPTIC ALARM SYSTEMS

by Anonymous

Thank you danjoefriedman I got it turned off but the problem is I've got 5 kids (bathroom) so you suggest not using anything at all until someone comes to fix it?

by (mod) - If the silence alarm switch doesnt work, do not run water nor flush toilets

Here's the problem: if the septic alarm sounds that already tells us that the level of sewage in your septic tank / system is abnormally high.

Watch out: If you keep running water in the house you risk flooding the septic tank, clogging its outlet, or worst of all, causing a costly and nasty sewage backup in the house.

It's fine to let the kids poop and if necessary pee into the toilets, but DO NOT FLUSH TOILETS and DO NOT RUN SINKS, TUBS, etc.

before you get your system repaired.

As you can see from my photo, excerpted from A LETTER to MY SISTER, my mom solved the septic system clog problem by sending me outside, preferably down to the river.

Avoid using your plumbing system until the septic system blockage / alarm problem is diagnosed and fixed.

Red septic alarm light was on and we can't get it to go off

9000 litre septic holding tank red light was on, alarm was on silent but went off when toggled up to reset position. So we had it pumped out. But the red light and alarm have remained on.

We do not have a manual for the system and there are no identifiers for brand / model etc, but we know it was installed in 2015 and this was the first time it needed to be pumped out.

There is only one toggle switch with two positions: down is silent, up is reset.

We don't know exactly how to do a reset on the system. Does anyone know?

Or can anyone identify the brand or model number for us so I can find a manual online?

Many thanks. On 2020-08-13 by Nancy W

by (mod) -

Apologies, Nancy as I want to help, but without a brand and model we're reduced to blind guessing.

Can you find ANY data tags of any sort on the equipment? How about inside any access covers?

Meanrwhile check for a stuck float switch.

Septic Alarm Chirping Noise Cause & Remedy - FAQs

Septic Alarm keeps m aking a continuous "Chirp" like a cricket, but continuous.

My residential septic system was overhauled about five years ago. It has a 500 gallon "dose tank" with pump, that fills from main tank. The dose tank has an SPI high-water alarm (model unknown, looks like 400 or 500).

The alarm has been emitting a low-level, continuous 'chirp' (similar to a cricket, but tone is continuous) for past few days. It's not the loud, high volume alarm tone.

Observations:

--noise doesn't clear when toggle switch is reset

--unit gives normal LOUD alarm tone when tested via switch

--it doesn't clear when unit is unplugged from 120VAC for several minutes

--no moisture observed inside the alarm case, no visual indication of previous moisture intrusion

--all connections on terminal strip are clean & tight

--dose tank pump seems to be operating normally, no drainage back-up.

On 2025-10-24 by Steve

by InspectApedia Publisher (mod) - First steps in diagnosing a chirping or buzzing septic alarm

@Steve,

First, if the chirping sound is continuous, perhaps almost like a continuous buzz, I'd look for a failed switch, relay, or motor - that needs prompt repair.

I prefer to troubleshoot by idnetifying the alarm brand and model (which you've tried to do) and then to see what troubleshooting steps are in the septic alarm manual.

If you don't have the IO manual for your SPI septic tank alarm - or as you so aptly put it, an SPI High Water Alarm, you might contact SPI directly at:
SPI
1378 Township Rd. 743, Ashland, OH 44805 USA
Phone: (419) 282-5933
Sales@SepticProducts.com
Website: https://www.septicproducts.com/contact-us

For help identifying which septic pump alarm you have installed, provided it's marked as an SPI Product,.

Here's the Septic Products Inc. Catalog [PDF] (at their website) (2025)

The IO Manual for the SPI 400 is this

• SPI Observer 400 Indoor/Outdoor Alarm Manual [PDF] (at the manufacturer's website) our local copy is also saved (offline) at SPI-Septic-400-Alarm-Manual.pdf - [we keep such copies as often online materials disappear]
  
  But I don't see one iota of detail about a user's manual nor alarm silencing. So that leaves us suggesting that if following the general septic alarm silencing advice in our own articles like
  
  AEROBIC SEPTIC ALARM SYSTEMS
  
  doesn't solve the problem you'll want to contact the SPI customer support people directly.
  
  Another example manual from SPI that might be useful is at
  Alarm Caddy Box – Alarm with Pump Receptacle - Installation Manual
  https://www.septicproducts.com/upload/documents/sales_sheet/alarm_caddy_box_installation_manual_and_sales_sheet.pdf
  - local copy saved as SPI-Septic-Alarm-Manual.pdf
  
  Keep me posted
  
  Daniel Friedman

by Steve - starting by disconnecting the wall box, then check the float switch

@InspectApedia Publisher,

I'm kinda wondering there might be moisture intrusion on the float switch, giving a high-resistance short.

If SPI doesn't give any hints, I reckon I'll disconnect the wall box first, and confirm there's no circuitry inside that could go flaky (electrolytic caps!). Not looking forward to opening the dose tank ;- )

by InspectApedia Publisher (mod) - safety warnings

@Anonymous, Steve,

Watch out: I hope you won't make any effort to open any portion of your septic tank while working alone and without expert help at hand. People have been overcome by methane, fallen in to the septic tank, or been left unconscious.

But do keep me posted as what you find will help others. Thanks, Daniel Friedman

by Steve - successfully isolated the alarm chirping problem to the septic alarm float switch and its wire lead

@InspectApedia Publisher, Roger that, Dan!

Good news, I isolated the fault to the float switch (and/or lead to same) for the high-water alarm, that resides in the "dose tank".

Here's my process, might help someone else in diagnosis:

1. Unplugged the high water alarm and pump.

2. Opened the alarm box and disconnected leads for the alarm's float switch.

3. Checked resistance across leads to float switch--mine showed 15K ohms, which I'm certain is way too low.

4. With float switch disconnected, plugged the high water alarm back into 120VAC--- no 'chirp'.

The low-resistance reading across float leads could be from damage anywhere along the leads, or moisture intrusion into float itself, or damage to lead where it passes under tank lid.

Watch out: I don't know if there's a "prescribed technique" for getting the lead under the tank lid & into tank, but my installation contractor just dropped the lid on the wire and buried it (500 gallon poly tank). It's been about eight years, perhaps the plastic wire insulation has finally given up the fight.

Interim action: leave high water alarm unplugged. Troubleshoot cabling when I get (another) septic contractor out to do routine pump-out of main tank.

by InspectApedia Publisher (mod)

@Steve,

Thank you so much for posting this follow-up, Steve, that will definitely help other readers who've run into this chirping sewage pump alarm problem.

How do I get our septic alarm to stop chirping?

The electrical box for our septic alarm is making a chirping sound but no alarm light is on.

When I push the reset button the chirping is still there. How do I fix it? On 2018-11-07 by Brad

by (mod) - the septic alarm continues to chirp because ...

Brad

I'm guessing that the alarm continues to sound too because the condition that is causing it, such as abnormally high wastewater levels or a pump that is not working, has not been cleared.

But if the alarm is not sounding and you're just getting a clicking or chirping noise from the septic alarm control box I suspect a failed switch or relay.

You might want to check the instructions for your control to see what the alarm signals and then let me know what you find.

More chirping noise sources are at CHIRPING NOISES in/at BUILDINGS

Why Won't Our Septic Alarm Work?

Our Septic Alarm, Tank Alert AB SJE by Rhombus, just clicks when we push the test button

Our septic alarm only makes a "click" sound when the test button is pushed - not an alarm sound.

I know the alarm system works because we intentionally activated it by lifting the float in the tank - which did cause the alarm button to light up properly but the noise was only a click (not a audible alarm as it should).

I tried unplugging the uint to reset it but had the same results when plugged back in. Any suggestions on how to repair in order to save the cost of replacing the entire unit?

It is a Tank Alert AB SJE Rhombus. On 2020-05-10 by Joy

by (mod) - Here are the instructions for your Rhombus Septic Tank Alert Alarm

Joy

I agree that that doesn't sound as if your Tank Alert is working properly.

If you don't have the user's manual you can find a copy here:

TANK ALERT SJB USERS MANUAL [PDF] This manual is described as

SJE PANEL LINK™ RTU WEB-BASED CELLULAR REMOTE MONITORING CONTROL PANEL

That didn't help us out.

I also looked at the installation guide - if you don't have that, see TANK-ALERT AB INSTALLATION MANUAL [PDF]

There is not much detail. Here's a quote:

This alarm system monitors liquid levels in lift pump chambers, sump pump basins, holding tanks, sewage, agricultural, and other water applications.

The Tank Alert® AB indoor rated alarm system can serve as a high or low level alarm depending on the float switch model used. The alarm horn sounds when a potentially threatening liquid level condition occurs.

The horn can be turned off, but the alarm light remains on until the condition is remedied.

Once the condition is cleared the alarm will automatically reset. A green "Power On" light indicates 120 VAC primary power to the alarm.

Low battery chirp feature indicates when battery should be replaced.

So what's left? Contact the company to ask for advice.

Contact: SJE Inc. Technical support: +1 800-746-6287 techsupport@sjeinc.com 22650 County Highway 6 Detroit Lakes, Minnesota 56501 USA www.csicontrols.com www.primexcontrols.com www.sjerhombus.com

Does my house have a septic alarm?

@Denna

An addendum: Being over 70 years old, this is the first house I've lived with a septic system. Otherwise, it's always been on a city or county sewer system.

I moved to a house with a septic system a year ago. So far, all is well. I use an appropriate septic product monthly and follow healthy septic system guidelines. My question, does all septic systems have an alarm?

As far as I know, my septic "tank" is below ground and I cannot nor have ever seen it.

Where might an alarm be installed? I know one is not in the house next to the breaker box. My house was built in 1991. On 2019-05-22 1 by Denna

by (mod) - if there is no septic pump you probably don't have a septic alarm

Denna

You won't normally find a septic alarm on a conventional septic system that receives its waste by gravity and disposes of effluent by gravity to a drainfield.

Septic alarms are used on septic and other equipment that use a pump, such as a lift pump that lifts sewage up from a low building level (perhaps a basement) to a main sewer line that runs out of the building higher than that.

A pump alarm may also be on an effluent pump that lifts effluent out of a septic tank and UP to a raised bed septic or into a mound system that's higher than the septic tank.

And aerobic septic systems that use an air pump to aerate the septic tank and to move effluent use alarms.

Except for some special aerobic system cases, there is no conventional septic system that requires a monthly treatment or additive - you could IMO as well simply flush a ten dollar bill down the toilet. Furthermore, some treatments are illegal and can contaminate the environment.

Who can install a new ungerground septic alarm wire from our septic tank to our indoor septic alarm

I moved into a new build that the alarm system for the septic system was not installed properly.

The wire running from the septic to the alarm in the house I suspect was damaged when it was burried or cement was poured for our patio. A septic guy installed a temporary line above ground from the septic to the house and the alarm works.

We need to find someone that will replace the underground damaged line or install a new one. Unfortunately, cement has been poured for our patio which is over the line running to the septic.

Who is the best person to contact to have an underground permanent line put in so our septic alarm works properly and permanently (electrician, plumber, septic guy?). The above ground wire is not a permanent solution as we have to keep disconnecting during mowing/etc. On 2020-06-30 by AE

Answer by (mod) -

AE

An electrician who does outside wiring and has access to a Ditch Witch or other trenching tool can do what you need.