Why Does My Septic Alarm Keep Going Off?

A septic alarm means water levels are too high, typically from a tripped breaker, failed aerator, or heavy water use. Most clear within 10-15 hours.

That red light and buzzer on the side of your house aren't something to ignore, but they're also not a reason to panic. The alarm on an aerobic septic system is doing its job: telling you the water level in the pump tank is higher than it should be.

According to the EPA, about 1 in 5 U.S. homes uses an on-site septic system. Texas has a particularly large number of aerobic septic systems because so much of the state has clay soil that won't support conventional drain fields. If you have spray heads in your yard instead of a buried drain field, you have an aerobic system, and that alarm box is part of it.

Alarm Cause	How Common	Urgency	Typical Fix Cost
Tripped breaker / power issue	Very common	Low	$0 (DIY reset)
Aerator pump failure	Common	Moderate	$500-$1,500
Stuck or faulty float switch	Common	Moderate	$125-$350
Clogged spray heads	Moderate	Low	$150-$400
Heavy water use or rain	Very common	Low	$0 (wait 10-15 hrs)

How Do You Silence a Septic Alarm and What Should You Check First?

Press the mute button on your alarm panel to silence the buzzer, then check your circuit breaker and reduce water use for the next 10-15 hours.

Your alarm panel is usually a small metal or plastic box mounted on the outside of your home or garage. Here's what the lights mean:

• Green light ON: The panel has power. This should always be on.
• Red light ON: Something triggered the alarm. The problem hasn't been resolved.
• Buzzer sounding: Active alarm. Silence it with the mute button.

The mute button is typically on the side or bottom edge of the panel. Pressing it stops the noise but keeps the red light on as a reminder.

After silencing the alarm, do these checks:

1. Check the circuit breaker for your septic system. It may be labeled "septic," "aerobic," or "pump" in your electrical panel. If it's tripped, reset it. If it trips again immediately, stop and call a professional.
2. Stop using extra water. No laundry, short showers only, and limit toilet flushing for the next 10-15 hours.
3. Look outside at your spray heads. If they're actively spraying on their normal cycle, your pump is working. If nothing is spraying despite the timer being in a spray cycle, the pump may have failed.
4. Check the area around your tanks. Standing water or very soggy ground around the tanks after recent rain could mean groundwater is seeping in.

If the alarm turns off on its own within 10-15 hours, it was probably triggered by heavy water use or rainfall. If it stays on, call your maintenance provider.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Septic Alarms in Texas?

Electrical problems are the most common cause of septic alarm activation, followed by aerator failure, stuck float switches, clogged spray heads, and excessive water use.

1. Tripped Breaker or Power Issue

The most common cause is also the simplest to fix. Power surges, storms, or even a random breaker trip cuts power to your system. The tank keeps filling with household wastewater, but the pump can't move it out. Water rises, float switch triggers, alarm goes off.

Fix: Reset the breaker. If the pump starts and you hear it running, the problem is likely solved. Give it a few hours to catch up.

2. Aerator (Air Pump) Failure

The aerator pushes air into the treatment chamber so bacteria can break down waste. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension (ESC-015), the biological treatment process in aerobic systems depends entirely on this air supply. Without it, treatment stops and the system can't function. You might also notice a strong rotten-egg smell around the tanks.

Fix: This requires a licensed technician. Replacement aerators cost $500-$1,500 installed.

3. Stuck or Faulty Float Switch

Float switches rise and fall with the water level. They tell the pump when to turn on and when to trigger the alarm. If a float gets stuck on debris, tangled on a wire, or corrodes, it sends bad signals. The pump may not run even though the tank is full, or the alarm may go off even when levels are normal.

Fix: A technician can usually clean, adjust, or replace the float for the cost of a service call ($125-$275 plus parts).

4. Clogged Spray Heads or Chlorinator

Spray heads distribute treated water across your yard. Over time, they get clogged with calcium, algae, or debris. When spray heads are blocked, water backs up in the pump tank. Similarly, a clogged chlorinator prevents proper disinfection and can restrict flow.

Fix: Your maintenance provider should clean these during routine quarterly visits. Between visits, you can visually inspect spray heads for obvious blockages.

5. Heavy Water Use or Rain

Running three loads of laundry, having houseguests, or a hard Texas rain can all push more water into the system than it can process at once. This is the most common "false alarm" scenario. The system isn't broken; it's temporarily overwhelmed.

Fix: Reduce water use and wait 10-15 hours. If the alarm clears, no repair needed. But if this happens regularly, your system may be undersized for your household.

Does Texas Require a Maintenance Contract for Aerobic Systems?

Texas law requires aerobic system owners to keep a continuous maintenance contract with a TCEQ-licensed provider, with quarterly inspections and reports.

This isn't optional. Per TCEQ regulations (30 TAC Chapter 285), every aerobic septic system in Texas must have an active maintenance contract. Your provider visits quarterly and tests chlorine levels, checks the aerator, inspects floats and pumps, cleans filters, and submits reports to your local permitting authority. TCEQ tracks these contracts through its On-Site Sewage Facilities (OSSF) program, and your county's designated representative can verify compliance.

What a maintenance contract costs:

Plan Type	Cost	What's Included
Basic (3 visits/year)	$275-$350/year	Inspections, testing, reports
Standard (quarterly)	$350-$450/year	Inspections, testing, minor repairs, reports
Premium (quarterly + supplies)	$450-$535/year	All of the above plus chlorine tablets, filters

What happens without a contract:

Some Texas counties (like Collin County) enforce maintenance requirements with fines up to $500 per offense, with each day counting as a separate violation. Beyond fines, an unmaintained aerobic system will eventually fail. Without regular chlorine checks, aerator monitoring, and spray head cleaning, you're looking at component failures that cost far more than the annual contract.

As Nathan Glavy, a TWRI Extension Program Specialist at Texas A&M, notes, "Inspecting and maintaining septic systems can help prevent negative impacts on local water quality and public health." That applies double for aerobic systems, which have more moving parts than conventional tanks.

If you don't know who your maintenance provider is, check your records for a company name or call your county health department. They keep records of which provider is assigned to each property.

How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Septic Alarm Problem?

Common aerobic system repairs range from $0 (breaker reset) to $1,500 for a full aerator replacement, far less than the $10,000-$20,000 cost of replacing an entire system.

Repair	Typical Cost
Service call / diagnostic visit	$125-$275
Float switch replacement	$150-$350 (parts + labor)
Aerator pump replacement	$500-$1,500
Spray head cleaning or replacement	$150-$400
Control panel repair	$200-$500
General repair labor	$275-$375/hour

Most alarm issues fall on the cheaper end. A tripped breaker costs nothing. A stuck float switch is a quick fix during a service call. The expensive repairs (aerator replacement, control panel issues) are less common.

For context, the EPA notes that roughly 1 in 5 U.S. homes relies on an individual septic system. In Texas, a large share of those are aerobic systems because of the state's widespread clay soils. Regular maintenance keeps repair costs low and prevents total system failures that run $10,000-$20,000 for a full replacement. Put differently, a $350/year maintenance contract can prevent repairs that cost 30-50 times more.

When Should You Call a Professional for a Septic Alarm?

Most septic alarm situations can wait a few hours, but sewage backup or raw sewage on the ground surface requires same-day emergency service.

If you've silenced the alarm, checked the breaker, and reduced water use, give the system 10-15 hours. But some situations need immediate attention.

Call your provider within 24 hours if:

• The alarm stays on after checking the breaker and reducing water use
• You notice the aerator isn't running (no humming sound near the aerator)
• Spray heads aren't spraying during their normal cycle

Call for emergency service now if:

• Sewage is backing up into your home
• Raw sewage is pooling on the ground surface
• Strong sewage odor is inside your home

Need an aerobic system technician in Texas? Find maintenance providers

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just ignore the septic alarm if it goes off occasionally?

No, but brief alarms after heavy rain or high water use can be normal. If the alarm activates and then clears within 10-15 hours, it was likely a temporary high-water event. If it happens repeatedly or stays on, something needs repair. Ignoring a persistent alarm leads to sewage backups and system damage.

How do I know if my aerator is working?

Go to the aerator (usually a small box or dome near your tanks) and listen for a steady humming or buzzing sound. If it's silent and should be running, the motor may have failed. Some aerators also have a small vent where you can feel air being pushed out. No sound and no airflow means the aerator needs professional attention.

Do I really need the maintenance contract, or is that just a money grab?

It's required by Texas law (TCEQ 30 TAC Chapter 285) for all aerobic systems. Beyond the legal requirement, aerobic systems have mechanical components that wear out. The quarterly inspections catch small problems (a worn float, low chlorine, clogged filter) before they become expensive failures. At $275-$535 per year, it's cheap insurance against a $1,500 aerator replacement or worse.

My alarm went off during a power outage. What do I do?

When power returns, the alarm may sound because the water level rose while the pump was off. Silence the alarm with the mute button and give the system 8-12 hours to pump down the excess water. If the alarm clears, no problem. If it stays on after the system has had time to catch up, something else may be wrong. Reduce water use until the alarm clears.

What's the difference between the septic alarm and a pump alarm?

On most residential aerobic systems in Texas, they're the same thing. The alarm panel monitors water levels in the pump tank. Whether the cause is a pump failure, high water, or low air pressure, the same red light and buzzer activate. Some newer systems have separate indicators for air pressure and water level, but the response is the same: silence, check the breaker, reduce water use, call if it doesn't clear.

How much does it cost to fix a septic alarm issue?

Most septic alarm fixes cost $0-$350, since the top causes are tripped breakers (free) and stuck float switches ($125-$275 service call). Aerator replacements are the most expensive common repair at $500-$1,500 installed, but they account for a smaller share of alarm activations. Your quarterly maintenance visit (required by TCEQ) should catch many issues before they trigger the alarm.

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Last updated: February 7, 2026 Reviewed by: Texas Septic Guide Editorial Team, TCEQ OSSF compliance specialists