What is a Septic Tank? | How does a Septic Tank Pump Work?

What is a Septic Pump?

A septic tank pump generally represents to a submersible water pump that installs with the last chamber of a septic tank or in another pump tank after the septic tank.

A septic pump uses to eliminate sewage from buildings where the water level of the sewer system is less than the water level of the sewer pipe or the building’s septic tank. These pumps are small electric water pumpsthat may be immersed in sewage water. When the water chamber fills with water, the float switch switches the pump on or off. As the pump is on top, the small pump impeller rotates and pushes the water up through a pipe linked to the pump.

What is a Septic Tank?

A Septic tank is an underground storing chamber that uses for sewage from houses that cannot get into the city sewer system. These tanks differ in composition and size but perform the same function: to contain sewage and offer primary sewage and sanitation treatments until the company (offering septic tank pumping service) empty the tank.

Septic tanks generally separate solids from liquids and hold the waste long enough for the wastewater to be directed to drainage areas or soil absorption areas. Sewer water has organic wastewater that drains into the soil and fertilizes.

Check also: Septic Tank cleaning and repairing cost for 2021

How does a Septic Tank Work?

The entire working of the septic tank pump is as follows:

1. Wastewater from bathrooms and kitchens goes into the septic tanks via the main drain pipe.
2. This septic tank starts collecting sewage in the underground. It holds this sewage so that greases and oils float at the surface and solid particles settle in the bottom.
3. After this, the wastewater (drain) is drained from the tank into the drain area via a drain pipe.
4. When the sewage fills the tank, the float switch is activated, and the septic tank pump starts. The impeller then forces the wastewater from the outlet pipe into the drainage area.
5. The sewage discharges via a pipe to the porous surface—these permit to filter of sewage through the soil.
6. As the soil penetrates the ground, it absorbs the sewage, treats it, distributes it and finally discharges it into the groundwater.
7. Eventually, the sewage penetrates in the soil and naturally removes dangerous nutrients, viruses, and coliforms.

An excellent way to prevent unnecessary septic tank cleaning is to install an alarm on the septic water pump. If there is not working pump, the wastewater level will continue to increase, and an alarm will notify you that no residue has been eliminated from the tank. An alarm sounds and a warning display before the wastewater backup occurs.

For a better understanding of the working of solar water pump, watch the following video:

How to Install a Septic Tank Pump in a Septic Tank?

Septic pumps can install in existing septic tanks or pumping stations after septic tanks. If the septic tank has a single chamber, we recommend not installing the pump directly on the tank. When the pump installs in a single-chamber septic tank, settled solids are pumped out of the tank. These solids can clog the immersion zone or the penetration zone.

If you have two or three septic tanks, you can build a submersible pump into the end chamber of the tank. We recommend installing a dirty water pump that can control small solids up to 30mm. Otherwise, the small solids can clog the pump.

Components of a Septic System

1) Filters

The filters (also known as bristle or sewage filters) must install as close as possible to the pumping station. These filters are an effective and simple means to protect your pump. As the sewage moves into the pump tank, small solid particles trap and retain in the sewage filter. The filter must place in a 110mm/4in T under the maintenance hole to easily remove and clean once or twice a year.

Read also: Different types of Pumps

2) Septic Pump Alarms and Controls

If a septic tank pump is installed, it is recommended that a septic pump alarm must be installed. This usually includes float switches connected to a small alarm panel. If the pump fails, no water pumps out, and the water level in the tank also increases. As the water level increases, the float switch is activated due to that alarm sounds, and the beacon flashes. Alarms for septic tanks give an early warning of the failure of the pump lock and can react immediately in the event of flooding or backflow of the sewer.

How to Maintain or Repair a Septic Tank Pump

Septic tank pump maintenance is tightly integrated with the maintenance of the general septic system. To prevent the need for emergency septic services and to extend the pump life, do not clean or drain the following common household parts.

• Dental floss
• Grease, oils, or fats generated by or utilized in cooking
• Cat litter
• Baby wipes

• Q-tips or other cotton swabs
• Personal care products

Other maintenance procedures are not utilizing waste disposal methods as they fill septic tanks faster and get water inside the tanks. If a high amount of water gets into the septic system, solids can enter in the septic tank and block the pump or drainage area.

Significant Maintenance Tips for Septic Tank

1. Check the septic pump and tank regularly (at least once a year).
2. Evade excessive water consumption (the tank may fill up or overflow with treated water during filtration).
3. Use efficient appliances such as dishwashers, showerheads, faucets, toilets, and washing machines.
4. Don’t flush anything down the toilet, excluding toilet papers and human feces. Think to utilize a child safety device on the toilet
5. Evade unnecessary draining of cooking oil and chemicals into the sink (it kills the organisms that break down the left-over in the water tank).
6. Do not limit or use chemical pipes and sewage purifiers.

How to Clean a Septic Tank Naturally?

Some people prefer their septic tank’s maintenance through the natural method. Natural cleaning uses a mixture of lemon, vinegar, and baking soda because this mixture is less dangerous than pouring a robust chemical cleaner (such as bleach) into the pipe, and it won’t kill any residue and natural bacteria in the decomposition tank.

What are the common Septic Pump issues?  

There are many issues that a septic tank pump may produce, but the most common issues are given below:

1) Noise or No Noise

With time, you can hear the septic tank working in the disinfection chamber. If the pump is having problems or doesn’t seem to be moving waste, it has problems, and you must immediately call to a plumber.

2) Leaking into The Septic Tank

This pump has a check valve that produces a pressure gradient to maintain the flow of waste through the pump to the drainage area. When the valve wears out or breaks, the sewage may move back into the septic tank, and the tank returns to the pipeline.

3) Faulty Float

The float can open and close and can be damaged by dirt entering the tank. Engineers can remove the sediment. Alternatively, the float may need to change if the damage is severe.

4) Burnt Out Motor

If the tank motor burns out or is damaged, the pump cannot move foreign objects even when the unit is switched on. You can usually solve this problem by installing a new pump.

FAQ Section

How to Fix a Septic Tank Pump that is not working?

Disassembly and cleaning of the pump

Step 1

Turn off the circuit breaker of the septic tank pump for your domestic electrical panels.

Step 2

Unplug the sewage pump from the socket.

Step 3

Eliminate the septic pump manhole cover and set it separately.

Step 4

Find and disconnect the connection that clears the septic tank pump from the rest of the plumbing.

Step 5

Use the lifting rope provided to lift the pump out of the tank and place it on the floor.

Step 6

Turn the pump over and eliminate rubbles from the impeller of the pump. Use a hose to move water by the impeller housing and eliminate any remaining residue.

Pump Replacement

Step 1

Use the lifting rope to bring the pump back into the tank.

Step 2

Replace the connector on the assembly of the pump.

Step 3

Put the electric plug in the pump and ON the circuit breaker in the electrical switch.

Step 4

Locate the ” Off/On” switch on the pump tank and raise it to its “ON” position.

Step 5

Watch the level of the water droplets to make sure the pump is pumping.

What is the Cost of a Septic Pump?

Standard household septic tank pumps are not much expensive. The price of a septic pump is usually £ 140 / € 180. If you can find a professional septic tank maintenance company to install the pump, they can charge the same fee again to install the pump. If you are using a large septic tank system or need to pump great distances or heights, you may need a larger pump.

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