If you own a septic tank, you know repairs can be costly, especially if you don’t maintain it regularly. Whether it’s wear and tear, an electrical issue, clogging, or a part malfunction, septic pump repair and maintenance is necessary to prevent a pump and lift station breakdown.
While there are three types of septic tank pumps – sewage, grinder, and effluent pumps – most have similar problems, warning signs, and solutions.
A lift station is essentially a basin housing the pump, along with the float switches and alarm system that control when it activates, the pump does the work, while the lift station is the structure and controls around it.
Several issues can cause a septic pump to stop working, but the most common are debris or grease clogging the pump or filter, a stuck or failed float switch, and electrical faults. Other, less common problems can be just as damaging to your home or property if they aren’t addressed right away.
Common Warning Signs
A major warning sign of septic pump problems is wastewater backing up into your home. This usually means the pump has stopped moving wastewater fast enough, which is often due to a clog, an electrical fault, or a failing motor, allowing the tank or chamber to overflow.
A few signs that your pump and lift station are having problems:
- Noises: humming, rattling, gurgling or grinding
- Reduced flow, or no flow
- Odours: a burning smell coming from the pump, sewage odour
- Wet spots near the tank or lift station
- Unusually high electricity bills
- Running longer than normal
- High water amount
Tank Triggers That Indicate Problems
There are different ways to tell if there is a problem with your septic pump and lift station.
Alarm/electrical: If your septic tank is not too old, it should already have an alarm. If it doesn’t, it may be time to get one, as an alarm tells you when your septic tank pump and lift station are clogged or malfunctioning before it ends up backing up into your home. If water isn’t being pumped out of your septic tank faster than it’s coming in, the level in the tank rises above where it normally would reach and the alarm triggers to let you know something is wrong before it becomes a problem in your home.
Physical/Sensory: Odours are a huge warning that something is amiss and needs to be fixed promptly. Unusual sounds, like gurgling, a slow drain, and pooling water are other physical signs that a problem exists.
Performance: A tripped float switch indicates that something is wrong with your pump or lift station. A panel alarm and a tripped breaker also indicate that a professional should inspect your septic pump.
Septic Pump & Lift Station Repair Options
Whether it’s a float switch fault or an electrical problem, repairs are required to keep your septic tank running smoothly and efficiently.
A few scenarios and solutions:
- Float switch issue – these are mechanical devices and over time, may fail and float. A replacement may be required.
- Motor issues – a repair or replacement may be necessary.
- Clogged pump – needs to be cleared by a professional.
- Electrical/panel issue – a repair is needed.
- Cutter problems – get the blade repaired, specifically for commercial grinder pumps.
Ready For a Pump & Lift Station Repair?
Septic pumps do the hardest mechanical work in your system, and like any mechanical device, they wear out – impellers, seals, and float switches all have a limited lifespan. Not every pump issue means the pump needs replacing, though. Sometimes it’s the float switch, wiring, or power supply, not the pump itself.
SepTech Canada assesses the pump and its components before recommending a fix, so you’re not paying to replace something that isn’t actually the problem.
Book a Septic System Health Inspection with SepTech Canada. We serve Strathcona County, Sherwood Park, Ardrossan, and surrounding acreage communities. Contact us at (780) 640-1518
