What to do When Your Septic Alarm Goes Off at 2 a.m.

If your septic alarm goes off in the middle of the night – or any time for that matter – you’ll need to act quickly to resolve the problem. There is no need to panic, but when your septic system sends out an alert, there may be an underlying issue that could lead to a major system failure and backup if not addressed promptly.

When it comes to septic systems, more information is always better, which is why many homeowners opt for advanced system monitoring technology like Septilink. This provides a clear idea of how every system component is performing and whether it’s time to schedule a round of maintenance.

What Does it Mean When a Septic Alarm Goes Off?

If your septic system’s alarm is going off, it typically indicates one of two things:

The water level in the pump tank is too low
The water level in the septic tank is too high

It is usually not clear which of these problems is present when there’s an alert, unless you have monitoring technology like Septilink installed.

Although the sound of a septic alarm blasting at 2 a.m. will likely induce panic, it is important to stay calm. These alarms are designed to go off when there’s still enough time to respond before an emergency backup happens, which is typically 24-48 hours. This means you will have time to call a septic system expert to resolve the issue.

Three Steps to Take When Your Septic Alarm Goes Off

While there’s no need to panic, you’ll still need to take immediate steps to mitigate any potential issues. Those steps include:

Shutting the alarm off – First, shut the septic alarm off before your neighbors are disturbed. The alarm should be incorporated into the monitoring system, which should be a red button or switch that’s clearly apparent on the alarm box. Push it and this should stop any alert.
Checking the septic system’s breaker – After shutting off the alarm, verify that the septic system is receiving power by checking the system’s breaker. If the breaker is on and the septic tank is getting power, then you can wait a short time (a few hours) to see if the red light switches off on its own. If it does, this means the tank may have just needed to run through a few pump cycles and even out the water level.
Contacting a septic system expert – If the red indicator light doesn’t switch off after a few hours, it’s a good idea to contact a reputable septic company and schedule a full inspection. Septic experts can provide several forms of maintenance, including pumping out the tank to remove clogs, checking for any worn pump components and identifying potential septic tank leaks.

In general, if your septic system is showing any signs of performance loss or distress, it’s highly recommended to have a septic expert come out and verify that the system is performing properly.

In short, homeowners have a little time to watch their septic system and see if reducing water usage restores proper function to the system. If not, you’ll need a septic expert to troubleshoot any potential problem and provide the appropriate repair.

Consider a Septic Tank Sensor for Better System Monitoring

With on-time preventative maintenance, your septic system should provide several years of uninterrupted, reliable performance. And while that’s obviously a positive, it means that homeowners can lose track of where their septic system is in its maintenance cycle – until a problem arises.

To prevent a sudden, potentially messy surprise, many homeowners are opting to augment their septic system with sensor-based monitoring technology. A leading example is Septilink, which provides real-time insight into septic system performance. This includes the following performance metrics:

Power current monitoring (amperage)
Air pressure (for systems with an aerator)
Pump running times and cycle counts
Power surge protection status
Water level
Door/enclosure status (open/close)

Septilink can also be programmed to send an alert when any of these performance metrics fall outside of nominal operating bounds, so you don’t have to wait for your septic system’s alarm to go off. Even better, it can be linked to a smart device, so homeowners can check on their septic system whenever and wherever they are.

If Your Septic System is Sounding the Alarm, Call the Septic Experts

Whether your septic tank is fitted with monitoring technology like Septilink or not, it’s always a good idea to contact a septic system professional if there’s any doubt about its condition. Septic problems can emerge and escalate quickly, so have the system inspected promptly to avoid property damage or further issues with the septic system.

When your septic alarm goes off at 2 a.m. or any other time, reach out to an experienced septic team to verify that everything is in good working order. With a full inspection and professional maintenance, you can sleep in peace without worrying about your septic system.