Septic alarm going off? What it means and what to do

A septic alarm is usually a high-water warning from a pump tank or I/A system. Cut your water use now, check the power, and call for service if it doesn't clear.

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Harwich Septic Help is a free referral service. We are not a septic company and do not pump, inspect, or repair systems. When you send a request, we work on matching you with an independent local septic provider, who must hold the required town permit and may pay us a referral fee. Prices, licensing, scheduling and work are between you and that provider.

What does a septic alarm mean?

Not every septic system has an alarm. Alarms are found on systems with a pump tank or pump chamber and on many Innovative/Alternative (I/A) nitrogen-reducing systems, which are common on Cape Cod. The alarm is usually a red light and a buzzer, on a panel inside the house or on a post in the yard.

On a pump system, the alarm is normally a high-water alarm: a float in the pump chamber trips it when the liquid rises above where the pump should have turned on. NC State Extension says a flashing or beeping alarm indicates "a pump is not working properly or that the water level in a pump tank is too high and close to failure." The University of Minnesota's onsite sewage program lists alarms sounding or flashing among the common indicators of a failing system.

Common causes

A pump, float switch or control problem (pump failure, a stuck or tangled float)
No power to the pump: a tripped breaker, blown fuse, unplugged cord, or a power outage
A blockage downstream of the pump
Too much water in a short time (laundry, guests, a leaking toilet), especially on timer-dosed systems
A fault in the alarm circuit itself

Sources: NC State Extension; University of Minnesota; Snohomish County; Geauga Public Health.

Septic alarm going off now?

Alarm sounding and sewage backing up, or you can't stop using water? Don't wait for us. Call a licensed septic hauler now from the Town of Harwich licensed septic hauler list, or the service company named on your alarm panel or I/A service contract. Stop using water and stay out of any sewage.

You can also send a request marked Emergency — today and we will work on matching you with an independent provider, who must hold the required town permit. We have not yet confirmed a provider and cannot promise a response.

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What should you do right now?

Cut water use to a minimum. Hold off on laundry, the dishwasher, baths and showers, and flush only when needed. Snohomish County's guide says conserving water lets the pump chamber's reserve storage buy you time to get the problem fixed.
Silence the buzzer, but don't ignore the light. Most panels have a silence or reset button. Silencing does not fix anything.
Check the power. Look for a tripped breaker or blown fuse for the pump circuit, and, if the pump and floats plug in, that the plugs are seated. Geauga Public Health suggests cycling the power and resetting the panel to see whether the alarm clears. If the power was just out, give the pump time to lower the level once power returns.
Don't open the tank or handle the pump yourself. Snohomish County warns never to enter a pump chamber: the gases inside are poisonous and the lack of air can be fatal. NC State Extension adds that tanks contain toxic and explosive gases, old tanks can collapse, and electrical controls are a shock and spark hazard, and advises against repairing a failing system yourself. Pump and float work should be done by an experienced professional with the power off.
Call for service if the alarm doesn't clear. If you have an I/A system, call the operator or service company on your maintenance contract (often named on the control panel). Otherwise call a licensed septic hauler or septic service company. Have your septic plan from the town handy so they can find the pump chamber.

Sources: Snohomish County pump chamber guide; Geauga Public Health; NC State Extension. These are general guides from other states; follow your system's own manual and your service provider's advice.

When is a septic alarm an emergency?

An alarm is an early warning. Geauga Public Health calls high-water alarms "a helpful tool to identify issues before sewage backs up into your home." Treat it as an emergency and call a licensed hauler right away if:

Sewage is backing up into toilets, tubs, sinks or floor drains. See our emergency backup steps; EPA advises avoiding contact with sewage and calling your local health department for guidance.
Sewage or wet, spongy soil is surfacing over the tank or leach field. The University of Minnesota program calls surfacing sewage that people or animals can contact an "imminent health threat" to be corrected immediately.
The alarm stays on after you've checked the breaker and reset the panel, and the household can't stop using water.
You see scorch marks, smell burning, or find wet electrical parts at the panel. Stay away from it and call a professional.

Harwich Health Department: 508-430-7509. For I/A systems, Barnstable County's Septic Management Program says I/A systems must be inspected at least once a year (often more), including their electrical and alarm panels, and lists 508-375-6901 for questions.

Sources: Geauga Public Health; University of Minnesota; US EPA; Barnstable County Septic Management Program. The electrical-damage point is common-sense safety, not a quote from these sources.

If alarms keep coming back

Geauga Public Health notes that a recurring pattern of high-water alarms usually points to frequent water overloading and/or a clog. Spread out laundry and dishwasher loads, fix leaking fixtures, and ask your provider to check the pump, floats and effluent filter.

NC State Extension recommends having a qualified operator for any system with a pump and keeping the pump and electrical parts working between scheduled maintenance visits.

How Harwich Septic Help works

Tell us what is going on. Use the short form: your town, the problem, and how urgent it is. It takes about a minute.
We work on matching your request with one independent provider who serves your town and must hold that town's permit. In Harwich, septage haulers need a Board of Health permit and Title 5 inspectors must be on the town's approved list, so ask the provider to confirm they are on the current list.
The provider contacts you directly, quotes the job and does the work. Price, scheduling and the work are between you and the provider. The referral is free to you; the provider may pay us a fee.

We are not a septic company, inspector or installer, we do not have an office you can visit, and we do not publish reviews or prices we cannot verify.

Request a call back from a local septic provider

Tell us your town and what is going on. We work on matching your request with an independent septic provider serving your area, who must hold the required town permit and contacts you directly. There is no charge to you for the referral.

Sewage backing up or septic alarm sounding? We have not yet confirmed a provider, so call a licensed septic hauler now from the Town of Harwich licensed septic hauler list. You can still send a request marked Emergency — today.

Frequently asked questions

What does it mean when my septic alarm goes off?

On most systems the alarm is a high-water alarm in a pump tank or pump chamber. NC State Extension says a flashing red light or beeping alarm indicates the pump is not working properly or the water level in the pump tank is too high and close to failure. County health guides list causes such as a failed pump, float or control problem, a tripped breaker or power outage, a blockage downstream, or using a lot of water in a short time.

Can I turn off the septic alarm?

Usually you can silence the buzzer (Snohomish County's guide says to push the reset or silence button on the alarm panel), but silencing it does not fix the cause. Keep water use to a minimum and get the system checked if the light stays on.

How long can I use water after the septic alarm goes off?

Snohomish County's guide says that by using water conservatively, the reserve storage in the pump chamber should give you enough time to get the problem corrected. How much reserve your system has depends on its design, so use as little water as you can until a professional looks at it.

Is a septic alarm an emergency?

It is a warning, not always an emergency. Geauga Public Health calls high-water alarms a helpful tool to catch problems before sewage backs up into the home. Treat it as urgent if sewage is backing up into the house or coming up in the yard, if the alarm stays on after a power reset, or if you cannot stop using water.

Why did my septic alarm go off after a power outage?

If your system has a pump, the pump does not run while the power is out, so the tank can fill. Geauga Public Health lists power outages among the causes of a high-water alarm. Once power is back the pump should lower the level; if the alarm does not clear, call a septic professional.

Sources

Facts on this page come from these official and public sources. Rules change; confirm with your local Board of Health.