Septic Tank Aerator Problem

[allied01]

I recently discovered that the aerator pump in my tank had stopped working. It could have been out for a long time. Replaced it with the same model. It seemed to function properly by circulating air in the tank and mixing the material around. Problem is, we immediately got a sewer gas smell in the house. Turned it off, aired out the house and all has been well since. Wonder if this is one of those things I should have left alone. Tank seems to be functioning well with only a couple inches of semi solid stuff in the bottom. Any suggestions?

[waterwelldude]

If you have an aerobic system, it needs the aerator to work. If yours has been out for awhile, when you first turn it back on it will smell for a day or so, until it starts working again. It may be time to have it pumped out. Does your aerator set in the tank or outside the tank?

[allied01]

Outside the tank. The pump is on the inside tank cover with a hose connection to what appears to be a metal pipe or drum (about 6-8" dia). It's the original 1980 tank and I suspect the aerator was added later. Is the use of an aerator preferred? Has not been pumped out for 5 years.

[waterwelldude]

With the aerator the water is cleaner. Do you have leach lines or sprinklers. If you have sprinklers. Yes, you need the aerator.With leach lines,you dont need it, but it helps the system work better. Since it has been 5 years. I would go ahead and get it pumped out. It will give you a fresh start. There is no need to put additives to get it started. It will start on its own.

[allied01]

It has a drain field seems to be working well. Thanks for the advise. I'll get it cleaned out and start over.

[waterwelldude]

Most recommend running the unit for a year (or until major problems are under control), and then going 6 months on / 6 months off (or something like that) just to get the best bang for your buck.


This statement is false. If the aerator is off for more that a few days, the system will turn septic. Over time the diffuser will become clogged. The bio mat or (dead bugs) and non- biodegradable matter will need to be cleaned out from time to time. It all depends on the water intake of the system in question.

[septicguy]

Thats the problem with most ATS systems. They are a maintenance nightmare. Think of a sub-surface sewage system like a human body. They generally are all the same, but each one is different and unique. They respond differently to inputs and outputs of varying degrees.

Anytime you add a mechanical or electrical component or process to any type of system, it complicates the system process as a whole.

What I'm trying to say is that a regular septic system which uses both areobic and anaerobic processes to break down waste, is a continual motion. Once the waste enters the tank is begins the treatment process. The process continues until the last drop of effluent is processed in the soil beds...at leat thats how its upposed to work. A standard septic system benefits from the user leaving it alone...except for the removal of inert solids at the bottom of the septic tank. I will resist the urge to go into great details of the benefits of septic tank cleaning.....I think that issue has been debated way too many times.

An ATS type septic system is also know by many names. Basically it's goal is to pre-treat the effluent AFTER the septic tank to produce a more "stable" or cleaner effluent. This may be accomplished by a number of different operations. Air injection is one of them and this process is aimed at promoting aerobic type bacteria, which are much better at consuming different types of pathogens for a greater period of time. There are also other processes which aid in the production of stable effluent. There is no standard for the design of these treatment systems. They can and are an almagamation of different ideas and components used to reach a common goal......clean the effluent before it's land applied.

What needs to be done is for the user to understand the fundemantals of sewage treatment and how their particular system was designed and installed. They are all different....BELIEVE ME. Once you have an understanding on your system, then standard troubleshooting ....along with a lot of trial and error are used to keep the system operating at peak performance.
I haven't tried to answer any specific questions or re-butt anyone's replies. Just tried to give my view on ATS systems.

[plumbingods]

Thank you Septicguy for that insight.

In my younger days, before I was a plumber, I was a septic installer and have installed from pipe and stone to eljin systems, cement chambers, plastic chambers, and presby systems, but I have never even heard of an aeration system, aside from commercially, until this site.

I think what you have taken the time to explain is well written and informative, and you even taught me something today.

"If you are not learning anymore, you must be dead." Mark Remillard

[waterwelldude]

Septicguy; (There is no standard for the design of these treatment systems.)

This is not always the case. In some parts of the country, the design standards are very strict. Texas, California are two of the most strict. The laws that govern the aerobic type of systems are strictly enforced.All aerobic treatment systems must meet a specific level of clean effluent.

You are right,most are high maintenance. There are even laws that require the homeowner to keep a contract with a maintenance provider, as long as the system is in use. The sole purpose of the maintenance contract, is keep the system working as it was designed.

[ATSnightmare]

We built our house 8 years ago about 600 feet from the road. We were told we would have to put in a sump pump to use city sewer and that it would need to be replaced every 2-3 yrs. We opted for the ATS not knowing what we were getting in to. The 2nd air pump has gone out and I have ordered a third. I stumbled on to this forum by accident and am seeking your opinions as I have gotten enough info to be confused.

We were under the impression that the ATS was not like the old septic tank in that it is maintenance free. That's why we had it installed. I have had 2 Thomas Linear air pumps. In purchasing the 3rd I couldn't find a Thomas and was told they are not quality so no one carrys them anymore. Looking at a HiBlo 80. can u comment? While looking I find many sites that carry all sorts of chemicals and stuff to add to the tank to make it better like "good" bacteria and chlorine tabs. Is that necessary?

After calling these sites I have been told that the Thomas compressor lasts for 2-3 yrs, the HiBlo 3-5 yrs and the Secoh 5-8 yrs. Can u confirm? The last guy I talked to made a comment about a clogged diffuser which could make the compressor go out sooner. I've looked for the diffuser and can't seem to locate it. I looked under the concrete pad the compressor sits on to follow the pvc pipe and there is nothing under there but dirt. I found a hand sketch of the ATS with the house plans. The pvc appears to run underground from the compressor next to the house to the tank about 10-12 feet away. At that point there are 2 caps. The first from the compressor is a white 6" capped pvc pipe of which I looked in and just saw wet yuck, the other is 2 1/2 -3 ft future with a meter type box where the lid lifts up. I can see a green 4" pvc coming thru the concrete wall from the previous chamber, a basket with holes (i was told for putting the chlorine tabs), electrical wiring, and a level that triggers the sprinklers. I'm thinking this is the 3rd chamber and the 6" pvc is the middle chambler. If so where is the 1st chamber (that's where the diffuser is right). How large are these chambers? Which chamber is the one to pump out of? Guess I just need to dig up the area from the house and follow the pvc pipe to find the diffuser. I read the remark about Texas & California...this being Texas, the maintenance people never look at any of that. I'm paying them to hold the contract and keeping the city off my back while they do nothing.

Any advise is greatly appreciated.

[waterwelldude]

You are not alone when it come to the people that are supposed to be checking stuff out. Not all maintenance co. are the same. There are quit a few good ones out there. But as you can tell. There are some bad ones also.
Maintenance co. are there to make sure it is working like it was designed.

If you have an aerobic system, do not put anything like so-called good bacteria or any thing else in it. It will be fine on its own.

The diffusers should be in the middle tank or chamber.
There should be 3 tanks or in some systems, one large concrete tank with the chambers built in.

The first tank or chamber, is called the trash tank. The second is called the treatment tank, the third is called the pump tank.
The first tank is where all the solids go and start the anaerobic processes, where the breakdown of solids take place.

The second tank or treatment tank, is where the waste is treated in an aerobic process. In that tank the waste water is treated with air, witch breaks down the waste at a much faster rate than in the first tank. This tank is where the defuser will be.
Most all the aerators made, regardles of make, only last any where from 3 to 5 years. They run 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

When it leaves the treatment tank the water is supposed to go through a UV light or a tablet type chlorinator. That will kill any germs or bacteria that may be still in the water.

In the 3rd tank or pump tank. That is where the treated water is pump out to the sprinklers.



Travis

[ATSnightmare]

Thanks for the details. I have done enough research to have a good idea about the typical layout and function. Not much info on the diffuser. I was told that a 1" pvc pipe comes from the compressor in to the tank and that the diffuser is at the end of that pvc pipe. Is this correct and what does it look like? If it needs attention/maintenance, why isn't it more accessible...duh

I don't know how long the compressor has not been working. The city discovered that the maintenance contract had expired the previous year and of cource the maintenance company was not on top of it. I'm afraid that just putting a new compressor on without cleaning the diffuser is a bad idea.
At this point I'm not finding the diffuser.

Any preference on the brand of compressor? When they come out with the truck to clean it out, which chamber is pumped?

Thanks, Jan

[waterwelldude]

I was told that a 1" pvc pipe comes from the compressor in to the tank and that the diffuser is at the end of that pvc pipe. Is this correct and what does it look like? If it needs attention/maintenance, why isn't it more accessible...duh

There should be a pipe from the compressor to the tank. What size, depends on the brand of system you have. Some have 1/2" some have 3/4" and some have 1".
On the end of the pipe, down in the tank, that's where the diffuser is, or should be.
They don't make them nearly as accessible as they should. As you found out...lol
Find out the brand name of your system, look them up on the Internet, and you should be able to get new diffusers from them. The name of your system should be on the control box or the alarm box.
It is much better to go back with new diffusers, than trying to clean the old ones.

If your tank has been cleaned out. The pumping co. may have broke the diffusers off. I have seen that before.
When you find the name, they will have a diagram of the tank, and it will show you where they are or were...lol
No, that's not funny.


When you have it cleaned. I would go ahead and have them all pumped out.
Most ATS can be hydraulicly over loaded. That will push untreated sewer into the pump tank. And no one wants that in the yard.

As far as compressor. I don't think there is that much difference in them.
There are some that work like a fish tank pump. They are not good. The ones that actually have an electric motor that sit by the house.
I feel most of them are about the same. They all last about the same amount of time. Around 3 to 5 years.


Travis

[ATSnightmare]

Hi Travis, Don’t know if you got my previous response. I keep getting interrupted and it takes a while to get back and finishing my reply. When I click on Post Message it says I am not logged in. I logged in and nothing happened. So here it is again and hopefully I can get it completed this time.

Thanks for the info. It helped to go out to the site/Aqua Safe. I thought the tank was square but found that it is round with a smaller attached side-car (guessing that is the 1st chamber?). There is one picture of the outside of the tank. However, there is no info or close up pictures to determine what the outside features are and nothing on the inside of the tank (guess they think we don’t need to know that stuff).

You stated the fish tank compressors located next to the house were not good ones. Mine is next to the house. Can you tell me what type is good and where I can get info on it?

In a previous email you mentioned “diffusers”. Are there more than one?
Thanks for you assistance, Jan

[waterwelldude]

I looked up the name you gave, and from what I can tell, that is the fish tank style air pump. I am not fond of that style, but that's just me.

Most all of the manufactures have aerators that can be mounted by the house.
As far as recommending one.
You will have to know the cfm,and psi required for your particular system.

You may give maker of you system and give them a call, and talk to one of there techs.
They should be able to tell you or email you some pics of the inside.
At least then you would know what is supposed to be in there.


Travis