Welcome to the wonderful world of septic tanks.

littlespark · Aug 5, 2022

Anybody deal with these things, or is it better for customer to get the proper service engineers?

Problem is there’s an air pump that should run constantly… but isn’t. Pump feels warm to touch. There’s a 230v supply to IP rated socket, pump simply plugs in.

I might add, this is in a separate box to the septic tank… I’m not standing knee deep in waste.

All the pump does is draws in fresh air and pumps it into the main tank via a hose.

I feel all that it needs is a new pump… but might there be other parts that need looked at?

There is an amber flashing light on top of the box lid, but no where for it to plug into.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Welcome to the wonderful world of septic tanks.

Box lid has “WPL” stamped on it as manufacturer… and the pump has its own model number.
I’ll be looking into their websites later when I get home.

snowhead · Aug 5, 2022

Time for a specialist.
It may be that as the pump hasn't ben aerating the slurry then there's now too much for a new pump to cope with and main tank may need emptying.
The end of the air hose may be stuck in solid Sh*t and unable to blow air out.

Additionally your wandering into the territory of Environment Agency and pollution of land.

The air pumps are easy enough to get hold of.

Charles Austen - ET 120 Air Pump

Charles Austen ET120 Air pump - Helps to increase the amount of oxygen in the water. PERFORMANCE RANGE Flow rate up to 120 l/min Max Pressure 0.10 bar

pumpexpress.co.uk

westward10 · Aug 5, 2022

If it is stop/starting then it sounds like a thermal cut out triggering. Disconnect the hose and see if it stays running.

littlespark · Aug 5, 2022

It’s not running at all, Westy, but as snow head says, I’m getting into environmental pollution territory.

I’ll tell customer to get a proper service engineer in… just in case there is a more shitty blockage down the process somewhere.

stevethesparks · Aug 5, 2022

littlespark said:
It’s not running at all, Westy, but as snow head says, I’m getting into environmental pollution territory.

I’ll tell customer to get a proper service engineer in… just in case there is a more shitty blockage down the process somewhere.

Agree, just confirm the the supply is sound and pass it on.

buzzlightyear · Aug 5, 2022

littlespark said:
I’ll tell customer to get a proper service engineer in… just in case there is a more shitty blockage down the process somewhere.

can you not suck and blow the S44t out if there is a blockage .lol.

Mike Johnson · Aug 5, 2022

The rocket science

of these things is in the digestion process, anaerobic or aerobic, anaerobic is without air and the digestion is afforded by the microbes in the waste breaking down the solids to discharge to a filter bed/soakaway, aerobic uses an air pump to agitate the solids and break them down to allow the fluid to discharge to a filter bed/soakaway, anaerobic systems use a minimum of two chambers to allow some of the solids to settle to the bottom of the tank and the fluid to discharge to the second chamber and on to a pre-filter or another chamber and then on to the filter bed/soakaway, in the UK there should be in place a permit to discharge issued by the EA.

Moley · Aug 5, 2022

Is it a diaphragm pump? Same sort of thing as a pond air pump. Could be just needs new rubber diaphragms?

Baddegg · Aug 5, 2022

I really didn’t want to scroll down to them pics @littlespark

pirate · Aug 5, 2022

I had a sceptic tank once...bought it cheap from the MOD.
It was computer controlled, and I drove it over the moors near Balmoral and pointed it at a huge house...
I pressed "FIRE!"...
and it replied, " I don't think so"

OnlQQker · Aug 5, 2022

I fitted a septic tank a few years back which had an alarm feature on it.

Not sure if this link could help you out

https://www.mpcservices.co.uk/pub/media/wysiwyg/Pumps_PDFS/Charles_Austen_ET60A_to_200A_series.pdf

Mike Johnson · Aug 5, 2022

Anything that is supposed to be a septic tank that requires electricity to operate is a aerobic digester and not a true septic tank, the alarms on them are to let you know the pump has failed or the thing is blocked.

brianmoooore · Aug 5, 2022

Mike Johnson said:
Anything that is supposed to be a septic tank that requires electricity to operate is a aerobic digester and not a true septic tank, the alarms on them are to let you know the pump has failed or the thing is blocked.

Septic tanks can only discharge to a reed bed or a drainage field, well away from streams and rivers. These things can discharge direct to a stream, with appropriate permission.
The air compressors are a weak point, and it wouldn't be far wrong to consider them a service item, especially if there's no control system and they run continuously. Their life can be shortened if they are inside a small unventilated enclosure (as this one looks like it might be) and that enclosure gets exposed to the sun.

Mike Johnson · Aug 5, 2022

brianmoooore said:
Septic tanks can only discharge to a reed bed or a drainage field, well away from streams and rivers. These things can discharge direct to a stream, with appropriate permission.

As I said in an earlier post a drainage field or filter bed is required for any type of septic collection and discharge tank.

They are not allowed to discharge into a stream since an EU ruling in 2012, in Europe, they have never received permission to discharge into streams in the UK, they are sometimes allowed to discharge into drainage ditch's if the discharge meets the appropriate contamination threshold after the filter bed and the base of the stream is of a suitable permeation level that the discharge never reach's a permanent water course.

For those interested in the installation of septic tanks there is this guide in french, that gives the latest guide as dictated by the EU to the french when they where told to clean up their act and stop discharging into the rivers and streams: https://www.capeb.fr/www/capeb/medi...QwSnE3_bgnieCMhrYK7Zp3zQo4_aakFZkGguc7WkmA9i4

littlespark · Aug 6, 2022

I’ve been reading the manufacturers instructions, and it is indeed an aerobic digester…. And best left to a specialist.

Me replacing the pump could well dislodge something that actually needs carefully removed.
Resulting in something more expensive being damaged.

I don’t know where the amber light is connected to. There is no corresponding socket within the box…

The box does have adequate ventilation, but it could be pulling in pollen, grass, bugs etc as it’s within a garden bed.
It’s already full of of snails and spiders.