Introduction
If you live in a rural area, chances are you rely on a septic system to handle your household wastewater. Septic systems are an efficient and cost-effective way to manage sewage, but many homeowners wonder if they require electricity to function. In this article, we’ll explore the role of electricity in septic tanks, how they work, and what happens when they lose power.
Do Septic Tanks Need Electricity?
You may have been wondering if your septic tank needs to have electricity to work properly. Most conventional septic tanks are gravity systems and do not use electricity. They depend on gravity to move effluent from the tank to the drain field or leach field. In a conventional gravity system, the drain field is at a lower elevation than the outlet of the tank. This allows the tank to drain downhill to the drain field using gravity. The major upsides of a conventional gravity septic system are:
- Cost-effective because they do not require expensive pumps to discharge or drain effluent to the drain field.
- Gravity-fed septic systems are usually easy to service because they don’t have complicated components like pumps.
In some cases, the terrain is not suitable for a conventional gravity septic system. Another major drawback of a gravity septic system is that it can be affected by seismic activity.
In such scenarios, complex septic systems that use pumps will need to be set up. Any septic system designed to use a pump will require electricity to function. Here are a few septic systems that use electricity:
- Aerobic septic systems use air or aerator pumps to supply oxygen to the aerobic bacteria in the tanks.
- Mound septic systems are often used in areas where space is limited, and the terrain does not allow for a traditional gravity septic system. They are also used in areas with seasonal flooding or where the ground water table is high. A pump is used to move effluent to the raised mound which is at a higher elevation than the tank.
- Pumps are also used to move wastewater to septic tanks that are located uphill from the house.
What to do during power outages
Power outages are a common occurrence in many regions of the world. The most common cause of power outages is damage to the power grid. This can be caused by accidents, natural disasters, or human error.
Most people know that when there is a power outage, it is important to turn off all electronics and unplug them from their outlets. However, many people do not know what to do with their septic system if there is a power outage. If you have a septic tank that relies on electricity to function and experience a power outage, here is what you can do:
- Don’t spend a lot of time in the shower.
- Reduce your laundry or better yet, avoid laundry until the power returns.
- Limit household water use. This includes limiting baths, dishwashing, and closing the tap while brushing your teeth.
- Switch off the septic pump breaker.
Will A Septic Tank Work Without Power? A power outage will prevent wastewater from being pumped out of the septic tank, which can result in sewage backups into your house.
Wiring A Septic Pump And Alarm
This section talks about the process of wiring a septic pump and alarm. It also gives some safety tips to follow while wiring a septic pump. Septic alarms are an important part of any septic system. They help to notify you when something goes wrong with your septic tank, such as when it gets too full or when there is a clog in the pipes. When the waste water level in the tank reaches a certain level, it triggers a float that activates the septic alarm.
Most conventional or traditional septic systems employ gravity to move effluent from the tank to the drain field. In some cases, the drain field is located at a higher elevation than the tank and its impossible to use gravity to move effluent. A septic pump is used in such a scenario to facilitate the removal of effluent from the tank to the drain field.
You need two wires from the house to your septic system. One wire provides electricity to the septic alarm, and the second wire powers the septic pump. In order to make sure that these cables (wires) last for a long time, they need to be UV resistant, weatherproof and strong enough to hold up under pressure. You can use PVC to protect the cables from physical damage. The process is as follows:
- Wiring septic alarm. In order for a septic alarm to work properly, it must be installed with the proper wiring. Connect the 14-2 septic alarm circuit wires and alarm float wires to the junction box via electrical conduit. Inside the house, connect the incoming wires to the alarm. The black wire goes to the alarm’s positive terminal, and the white wire should be connected to the negative terminal.
- It’s important that a septic pump be installed on a dedicated circuit. Install a 12-2 hard cable (wire) from your home`s breaker box to the septic tank. Connect the cable (wire) to the weatherproof electrical box outside the septic tank.
Do Septic Tanks Use Electricity: FAQs
There are many myths about septic tanks and electricity, which is why we decided to break it down for you. Here is a list of some common Frequently Asked Questions related to the use of electricity in septic tanks:
Do Septic Tanks Use Electricity: Final Thoughts
Septic tanks are a necessity for most homes and offices. Do septic tanks use electricity? Conventional septic systems do not use electricity, whilst aerobic or mound septic systems use electricity.
