January 14, 2022

Why is the Alarm Sounding on my Aerobic Septic System?

What Causes Your Septic Air Pump Alarm to Ring, and What to Do About It

A HIBLOW septic air pump with alarm is considered by many to be the “heart” of an aerobic onsite system. It’s critical that it runs 24/7, 365, but, at some point, the air pump will stop running, usually because the diaphragms have ruptured after years of use.

To notify the homeowner, OEMs incorporate some type of low-pressure alarm in their system that triggers when the PSI drops below 1. The alarm can be attached to the electrical panel on your house, or on the pump itself (see images below). The air pump is often the cause, but there are other conditions that can sound the alarm.

septic air pump with alarmseptic air pump with alarm

When your alarm sounds, typically it’s best to mute the buzzer so that you don’t annoy your neighbors! On your HIBLOW septic air pump with alarm, simply move the switch on the alarm (to the left) to mute and contact your service provider immediately. Whatever you do, don’t mute and forget about it!

Possible causes of your septic air pump with alarm or external alarm panel sounding:

The diaphragms have ruptured inside of the pump
When the diaphragms rupture, the safety switch mechanism cuts power to the pump to prevent the magnetic rod from destroying other components. Check out rebuild videos on our support page which will walk you through how to access the diaphragms and rebuild the pump if necessary. You can also contact a service provider for the rebuild. https://www.hiblow-usa.com/support/

Your septic tank has been pumped recently
When this happens, the water depth is lowered, which limits the backpressure on the system. This can cause the alarm to sound, but usually rectifies itself in a couple of days as wastewater enters the system and the water level rises to normal levels.

The umbrella valves in the pump casing blocks have worn out.
The umbrella valves inside of the casing blocks (that attach to the diaphragms) wear over time. If your pump has been rebuilt previously and only the diaphragms have been replaced, the valves can wear, causing the pump to lose pressure. HIBLOW recommends always installing the complete rebuild kit to prevent this issue.

The base gasket has become brittle or withered away and air is escaping
In very hot climates or after years of use, the base gasket can wear out. If it gets bad enough, air can start seeping in between the upper and lower housing, which drops the pressure in the air pump.

Condensation can build inside the 1/8’ tube that connects the air pump to the external alarm panel
If condensation builds up in this tube, the sensor may not be able to properly detect the pressure. Disconnect the tube and blow it out or replace it if needed.

There is a break somewhere in the line between the septic air pump and the aeration tank or between the air pump and external alarm panel
Check that the rubber hose is secure on both the outlet port on the pump and the air line. If your pump is attached to an external alarm panel, make sure the tube is snug at the pump and at the panel. If everything else has been ruled out, it may be time to contact a professional septic service provider to troubleshoot your septic air pump.

Over time, your tanks can settle, and the pressure may break the airline where it enters the tank.

If you have further questions about your HIBLOW septic air pump with alarm, please give us a call or send us an email. We’ll be happy to help you troubleshoot and set you up with an authentic HIBLOW distributor if parts are needed.

January 14, 2022

Posted in:

Residential Wastewater

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