Wells, Sump Pumps and Septic Sewage Systems - Double septic tank problems

:mad: I live on a sloping lot and have 2 septic tanks. One is the large one from the house. The second one is attached to the first one so that when the water level in the first one reaches a certain point, it spills over into the smaller one. The smaller one has a pump in it which then pumps the excess water out into the drain field. Several weeks ago, "everything" started backing up in the house. My ex-husband dug up both tanks. As it turned out, the large tank was clogged with paper. The smaller tank was almost empty. Two nights ago, "everything" backed up again. This time, however, both were FULL TO THE BRIM. This leaves me to believe that the submersible pump in the smaller tank isn't working. I've checked the switches to make sure they were on and I have also checked the outlet that the pump is plugged into and they work. IS THERE ANY WAY TO FIND OUT HOW AND IF THAT PUMP IS WORKING? I AM BEGINNING TO GET REAL NERVOUS ABOUT ALL OF THIS. I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND FEEL LIKE THE COMPANY WHO IS COMING OUT IS JERKING "THIS LITTLE LADY" AROUND ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND THE COST. CAN SOMEONE OUT THERE EITHER POST OR EMAIL ME ANY SUGGESTIONS? ANY HELP AT THIS POINT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I hope this make sense to someone.......'cause I'm sure confused. THANK YOU

Hi Newjean,
welcome to the wonderful world of septic systems, fun stuff. - It does sound as if the pump may not be pumping when it should. To test the pump, grab it's float and hold it up, it should pump. If not, it may be a faulty float.this is much more common than a faulty pump. If by any chance your pump wires come to an outlet, and are a combo, that is one plug piggy-backing the other, then it's really simple. The outer plug is direct to the pump, just pull out the inner one and insert the outer to the socket. If the pump works then the float is faulty or has a broken wire. Post back and let us know . :cool:

It sounds like you are on the right track with the pump.

I always double check to see that the control box and outlet are getting power if someone has been digging in the area. It is easy to cut an underground power line. How did you check the outlet the pump plugs into? One easy way is to plug a light into the pumps outlet to make sure it is getting power.

I don't know how much of this testing you are going to do yourself... Testing the float switch is pretty easy to do when it's on the surface, but when it's underground and under several feet of sewage, grabbing the float is easier said than done. Usually you have to have the tank pumped out by a septic tank service and then the switch is still way down a dark hole and out of easy reach. Hopefully you can simply plug your pump directly into a hot outlet like NOMIND suggested.

:) Thank you nomind and Pilot Dane. The pump is running.....you can hear it when the lid is completely off. I checked the outlets with my hair dryer so I know they are both working. There is some PVC pipe in the smaller tank with a metal valve looking thing on it. Could this be a "check valve" (that's what my ex called it) and something be wrong in it/with it? The "oh-so-expensive" septic people are coming out sometime today. Not sure what I'm going to let them do, if anything, but they said they would come take a look and not charge me unless they did something and that they would bring their small truck and at least pump half the tank "for free" so they could at least see the pump. Any further suggestions/help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED. Thanks again.

Newjean,
-if you can hear the pump running then it's possible the pipe is either plugged somewhere, or there's an airlock in it. The valve you see is likely the check valve. Turn off power and undo the pipe on the PUMP side of check valve ( if it's a plastic pipe, cut it and later put on a coupling.) and then run the pump, if it pumps water through, then the pipe is blocked somehow down the septic field line (unusual) or your check valve is stuck (also unusual). I've also had this exact situation with a frog blocking the pump intake !
:cool:

I think now would be the perfet time to pump those tanks (which should be done every couple of years anyway). It would be much easier to work on the pump then. :)