What to do right now
- Stop using water. No laundry, dishwasher, baths or long showers. Flush only when necessary. Every litre adds to the problem.
- Silence the alarm with the button on the panel, if it has one. Silencing stops the noise, not the problem. The warning light usually stays on.
- Check the breaker. Make sure the breaker for the septic pump hasn't tripped. If it has, reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off and call.
- Don't open the tank or pump chamber. Septic gases can be dangerous, and the lids can be heavy and unsafe.
- Call our local line or send the quick quote form.
If sewage is coming up into the house or surfacing in the yard, treat it as an emergency. See emergency septic service.
What a septic alarm means
Not every septic system has an alarm. Systems with a pump chamber usually do. The pump moves effluent from the tank to the drain field, often uphill or to a pressurized field.
The most common alarm is a high-water alarm. A float switch in the chamber rises with the liquid. When the level gets too high, the float triggers the alarm. In plain terms, liquid is coming in faster than it's going out.
Common causes
The pump has failed
Pumps wear out. If the pump isn't running, liquid keeps rising until the alarm sounds.
A tripped breaker or electrical problem
No power means no pump. A tripped breaker, a failed connection or a damaged cable can all stop it.
A stuck or failed float
Floats tell the pump when to turn on. If a float gets stuck or fails, the pump may never start, even though nothing else is wrong.
Too much water at once
Several loads of laundry, a long bath and a dishwasher in a short time can overwhelm a small chamber, even with a healthy pump. If the alarm clears on its own within a few hours of light use, this may be the cause. It's still worth having checked.
A clogged filter or line
A blocked effluent filter, pump screen or discharge line can stop liquid from moving.
A drain field problem
If the field can't accept liquid, it backs up into the chamber. See drain field repair.
Heavy rain or groundwater
In wet weather, water can get into a tank or chamber through cracked lids, poor seals or high groundwater.
Why you shouldn't ignore it
The chamber has some reserve capacity after the alarm sounds, but not unlimited. Once it's full, sewage can back up into the house or overflow outside. A pump that runs dry or short-cycles can also burn out.
An alarm is your system asking for help early. Answering it fast is almost always cheaper than cleaning up after a backup.
What a septic pro will do
- Check power, breaker and controls
- Test the pump and floats
- Check filters, screens and lines for blockages
- Pump the chamber if needed so the system can be worked on safely
- Look for signs of drain field trouble
- Recommend a repair and quote it before doing the work
Pump and control work on onsite systems in BC should be done by an authorized person, such as a Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner (ROWP).
Septic alarm FAQ
Can I just keep silencing the alarm? No. Silencing stops the noise, not the rising water. Use as little water as possible and get it checked.
The alarm stopped on its own. Am I fine? Maybe it was a short surge of water. But if it happens again, or happens without heavy water use, the pump or floats may be failing.
How long can I wait? It depends on how full the chamber is and how much water you use. Keep water use to a minimum and call as soon as possible.
My system doesn't have an alarm. Should it? If your system has a pump, an alarm is an important safety feature. Ask a septic pro.
Preventing future alarms
Most alarms trace back to a handful of causes, and many are preventable:
- Test the alarm regularly. Many panels have a test button. An alarm that doesn't sound when it should is worse than no alarm.
- Keep the pump on its own breaker and make sure everyone knows which one it is.
- Have the pump, floats and filter checked as part of routine maintenance. Your maintenance plan will say how often.
- Pump the tank on schedule. Solids that escape the tank can clog pump screens and filters.
- Spread out water use, especially laundry, and fix leaks quickly.
- Seal cracked lids and risers so rainwater stays out.
- Keep heavy loads off the tank, chamber and field.
Know your system
Take five minutes to learn your setup before anything goes wrong:
- Where's the alarm panel? Usually inside the house, in a garage or on an exterior wall.
- Where's the pump chamber? Often a separate lid near the main tank.
- Which breaker runs the pump? Label it.
- Who serviced it last? Keep the receipt and the phone number.
When the alarm goes off at 9 p.m., you'll be glad you know.
Get help with your septic alarm
Call our local line or send the quick quote form. Tell us your area and that your alarm is going off, and a registered local septic pro will get back to you fast.