Bio cycle unit - Does this sound right?

MrExcitement

Hey,

Moved into house around 7 years ago. Previously unoccupied and what we could tell, had a bio cycle unit (aerator, submerisble pump to pecolation area). Over the years we are finding that regardless what the pump (GrundFos, Lidl(parkside), cant remember other), it pretty much wears around 1-2 yrs and we find the drains brimming and have to run off in emergency mode. So that indicator 1 to us that set up isn't optimal there.

From what I've learned the company that supplied these were in Kilkenny and went out of business around 2008/2009/2010 ish so I couldn't say what brand it is.

In frequently, I do find the pump not extracting and have to reposition it (presumably its float gets stuck as pump chamber not that big) but it occurred to me looking at chamber today (because it had stopped again) was the pump chamber has a fair amount of those black bio balls in it. The outer chamber is full of them so I guess when it backs up and water level rises, they spill into the pump chamber so that could be culprit for jamming up the pump from time to time.

What I was hoping to understand is, for any bio unit, should the pump chamber be completely clear of these bio balls?? I'm guessing yes but sure what do i know :)

MrExcitement

And while I'm puzzling over the pump chamber question, does a Bio cycle tank need be emptied? I find it hard to determine as air blower seems to be active just fine churning water. Water enters pump chamber all the time. I had been informed by a previous drain service provider that it would never need to be emptied which seemed odd because where else would sludge go. Its not magic.

So I'm trying to understand how to know if it does need to be emptied. In the chamber outside the pump chamber with all the bio/diffuser balls i I push a sewer rod into it, its pretty sludgy so don't know if that is an indicator? After all, its a tank to collect all the fun stuff so what else am I expecting ? :)

I fear inviting that question to a drain service may just give a resounding "lets pump" even if it doesn't require it. We've been using the tank for around 7 years.

shane b

If you are having to replace the treated water pump every 2 years, there is something wrong somewhere. Also I doubt those bio balls should be in the pump chamber. I believe some biological aerated filter (BAF) system use those bio balls so maybe thats the type you have.

Generally the first section of a septic tank is where the solids settle so if thats pretty dense its possibly time to empty it. We empty ours every 3-5 years.

The air blower part of our system spends a lot of time churning the water too but thats part of the treatment process. I just looked at our readings and it runs at about a ratio of 12:1 compared to the clearwater pump.

The EPA code of pratice is a good source of info and maybe put in a call to some local treatment companies for info.

When we bought our house 10 years ago, we managed to get some information from the planning permission file for the house, so maybe the council may have something on file.

MrExcitement

Thanks Shane B.

I put in a call and seems most of problem was down to head height on our pumps just not being powerful enough so every pump, 10% water would reach chamber and rest would return back through pipe and pump...hence overdrive and burn out.

A non return value onto the pipe has calmed matters for now so fingers crossed. And yes, cleared the pump chambers of the bio balls and had tank emptied anyway.

Now I wait...... :)