Where does the Poo Go?
Rural living is not always fun, have you ever wondered “Where the Poo goes? Living in the city
as I flushed the toilet I knew that it would eventually end up in the Halifax Harbour or now in the new Sewage Treatment Plant.
The other day the GFI (ground fault indicator)
switch that is connected to the Septic Tank float, kept popping out. Visions of digging up the lid and removing the pump, sent shivers down my spine. I purchased a new plug and changed out the old one. My thought was that maybe it was only a weak spring in the plug. Better to start there than dig up the pump.
After I had changed the plug, the pump kicked in and emptied the liquid effluent into the contour pipe that runs the perimeter of my lawn. (Nice Green Grass). Success I thought, in ya dreams Mossy. The next day after the Mrs had done a couple of loads of laundry and I had a Jacuzzi, the GFI popped out again.
On with the old working duds and dig up the lid. Not too hard to find as I had marked the wall on the garage, the last time we had a problem. Once the lid was up and I started to get used to the pong, I lifted the float switch to make sure that it was working. The pump started up and pumped the liquid up hill to the septic bed. Angie was keeping an eye on the GFI when out it popped again, now this is a good indication that there may be a problem with either the float switch or pump
motor. Nothing for it but to lift out the pump. I disconnected the the pump at the non return valve and hauled it up to check the motor. I had an extra length of wire fitted during the last repair and was able to lift the pump up to check the impala. Sometimes, sludge or a stone can get caught in the motor. Not good as it jams up the impala, in turn popping the GFI or burning out the motor. This is the dirty part of the job, the pump had been down there for 6 years and a build up of black sludge was caked to the pump body. I hosed everything off and checked the motor impeller. All was clear, next I put the whole unit in a large bucket and filled it up. As soon as the float raised, the motor kicked in and we were back in business so to speak. I refilled the bucket and operated the float by hand, it worked with out setting off the GFI. A small hole is drilled into the ABS pipe, at the bottom to drain the backup water to prevent the pipe freezing in the winter.
Another DIY job that saved a mint.
© John Moss 11 April, 2006