Where to get septic alarms?

ACR_SCOUT

Hello,

As I start my planning to finish my basement there is one thing I need to install soon, the septic alarm.

My plumbing runs out to a septic tank, which empties into a pump tank, which pumps the stuff up a minor incline to the drain field.

In the past I have had two pumps fail and it backup into the basement, coming out of the washing machine drain pipe. The laundry has since been moved to the living level. Now if the septic backs up it will first come out of the master bath shower.

What I want to do is install an alarm in the basement for the pump tank but cannot seem to find a source or instructions. Most of what I see are boxes with a "6 ft power cord and 15' float cord. From the pump tank to where I want the box in the house is easily 2 feet.

Any suggestion will be appreciated.

Thank you,
Fred

joecaption

The reason is most are installed outside on a 4 X 4 post.
Why does it need to be inside?

ACR_SCOUT

Ahhhh, to hear it better? Don't want to disturb the neighbors?

You got me, I dont have a good answer for this. I just thought they were supposed to be in the house.

I don't know how loud these alarms are but it could be mighty rude to the neighborhood and embarrassing to me if this alarm went of at an improper time.

The first time I had my breakdown was about 11:30 PM Christmas night two years ago.

The smell woke me. At first I thought it was a fire from the fireplace.

TheEplumber

you can always lengthen the cords with water proof splice kits or junction boxes

ACR_SCOUT

So the junction box gets attached to the crock (pump tank)? The float switch wired into the wire coming from the house? My intent is to dig in conduit and run the wire through PVC conduit thru the basement wall and into the alarm. This is if I understand you correctly.

TheEplumber

check this out--Liberty Pumps

ACR_SCOUT

what a concept.

TheEplumber

I know nothing about the product. I do know though that alarm boxes and pump controls are installed indoors all the time.

Daniel Holzman

You must have a very different electrical arrangement than mine. I have a similar septic setup, 1500 gallon tank empties into a 1000 gallon pump chamber. The pump is wired through a control box in my basement, which includes an alarm, which is connected to the high water float in the pump chamber. There is a test on the alarm in the basement, plus a light which shows green as long as the level is within standard tolerance in the pump chamber. Goes red if the level gets too high, and the alarm goes off simultaneously. I thought most systems were wired like this.

My alarm panel failed about ten years ago, I replaced it with a new one, pretty simple. You may have a different issue, but if you have a pump control panel in the basement, you may be able to replace it with a panel with alarm. This assumes you have a high level float in the pump chamber.

ACR_SCOUT

All I have is 110 volt line going from the main service panel out to a junction box on the side of the pump chamber. Nothing fancy. The pump float switch is wired inline with the pump.

psilva8

edited