The Importance of Septic System Lift Station Maintenance
Septic systems can be found throughout the U.S. in rural areas not served by municipal sewers. Lift stations are needed for systems installed in uneven land that requires drainage from the home to go uphill to get into and through the septic system.
Lakeland Septic Company of Lakeland, FL, would like to cover a few of the important parts of lift station maintenance for those of you who use these components.
Who Should Inspect Your Lift Station?
You may be able to spot obvious signs of lift station damage, and you certainly will know if the lift station alarm is going off, but for inspections and routine maintenance, you should work with a local septic service professional.
Regular inspections and routine lift station maintenance are the best ways to ensure that your lift station and the entire septic system run efficiently and provide you with predictable service day after day.
Lift Station Maintenance Tasks
Here are some of the tasks that should be part of regularly lift station maintenance:
- Inspect the pump and make sure it’s working correctly to prevent sewage backups in the home and leaks through to the ground outside.
- Impeller cleaning to remove and prevent clogs.
- See that the check valve is functional to keep wastewater from backing up into the lift station.
- Seals and bearings check to spot wear and damage that could cause the pumping system to fail.
- Inspection of the lift station’s electrical system and wiring.
- Motor inspection to keep the entire system from shutting down.
- Check the operation of the control panel.
- Clean debris off the float switches and inspect them for proper alignment.
- Clean and inspect filters.
- Alarm and backup system testing.
A fair amount of cleaning usually happens during standard lift station maintenance. Parts or components found to be damaged or not working should be replaced.
All Parts Of The Septic System Must Work Together
A compromise in any part of a septic system can affect many other parts. The septic tank, piping, filters, drain field and lift station must all be working right to prevent the unfortunate results of a breakdown. Common results include:
- Drains throughout the house running slowly
- Toilets that flush hesitantly or overflow
- Foul sewage odors inside and outside the home
- Septic system leaks that send raw, potentially hazardous sewage up to the ground
Other Septic System Maintenance Jobs
Along with having your lift station inspected and maintained regularly, it’s important to schedule septic tank pumping and full-scale inspections for your entire septic system.
An overfull or malfunctioning septic tank can cause backups and leaks like those described above. Pumping should happen every three to five years, depending on the size of your tank and the volume it handles.
When any part of the system is found to be damaged and can’t be repaired, it should be replaced by a skilled septic service technician.
The Help Your Lift Station And Septic System Need
Lakeland Septic has been helping our customers keep their septic systems in order for more than 15 years. If it’s time to have your lift station or entire system inspected and serviced, we’re the experts to call first.
Reach us by phone, or get in touch with our handy contact form.
