Lift Stations / Septic Pump Repair

Lift Stations / Septic Pump Repair


Usually septic systems use gravity to take the waste water from the septic tank to the drain field. However, there are instances when gravity will not work because the drain field is either too far away or uphill from the septic tank. In these cases a lift station is utilized to actively pump the waste water to the drain field.


How Do I Know I Have a Pump / Lift Station?

The first thing you should do to educate yourself on your septic system is call your local county environmental health office to procure your septic permit drawing. This document has a lot of useful information about your septic system.


Click below for Fayette and Coweta County’s Environmental Health websites.

Fayette County

Coweta County


If you cannot get your drawing for whatever reason there are a few things at your home that will let you know if you have a lift station and pump. If you have one riser (a round 24” man hole looking cover) in your yard, that could be leading into a pump tank. Usually, if you have risers on your septic tank there would be two. Another thing to look for is an alarm. Alarms can be installed anywhere in your house. Sometimes, they are outside right next to your pump tank. Other times, they are in your garage. However, we have seen them installed under bathroom sinks and even in the attic. The last sign that you may have a lift station and a pump is if you have an outlet in your yard near where your septic tank is located.


What Happens if My Pump Stops Working?

If a septic pump stops operating for whatever reason, then the waste water is unable to make it out of the lift station and eventually will fill up the lift station and the septic tank which will lead to a septic back up. There are multiple reasons why a pump would stop working and not all of them lead to having to replace the pump. Firehouse Septic Fayetteville specializes in diagnosing pump problems and replacing the pump if necessary.