How does a SEPTIC PUMP tank work? || DIY House Build

[@RossReedstrom]

With all the sensors you're installing in all your infrastructure, you're going to be living the Star Trek chief engineer life: I'll expect the LCARS dashboard on your home assistant panel, soon! Also, love the automation philosophy.

[@AdventurousWay]

Haha, that would be amazing! Will see what I can do!

[@GreyRockOne]

Very nice! love the sensor idea, just wondering, can you remove the pump for service without entering the tank like on a household septic pump tank?

[@ndiandy]

Great video, all the different topics kept it flowing enjoyably! I really enjoy the technical aspects, those things that people never notice in the finished product, but are what make it work. As an Air Force aircraft mechanic for 37 years, no one ever asked, "how does the XYZ system operate" it's always, wow that look cool, how fast does it go. LOL

[@AdventurousWay]

Thank you! I love understanding how things work, and as so many of these systems are new to us and we're trying to use them in potentially unconventional ways, understanding how they work is key to making them do what we want!

[@gd4u422]

You did an excellent job!

[@AdventurousWay]

Thank you!

[@robthomas5488]

Installing back-to-back sharp 90°s so close to each other will cause you problems. Should've installed a long sweep 90° to lessen the stress and possible clogging on your system.

[@AdventurousWay]

Which 90s are you referring to?

[@robthomas5488]

@@AdventurousWay coming off the pump. You have one on the vertical exit from the pump, one on the horizontal to vertical exit, and one on the horizontal leaving the tank. Just my experience installing and replacing dozens of systems.

[@AdventurousWay]

@robthomas5488 that’s by design and is how the pump should be installed with the tri check valve. It was delivered already plumbed like that. Also remember that there are no solids being pumped here - only liquid.

[@sherylshupel]

Great news about the water test - is this something you will plan to test on a somewhat regular basis? And, I have to say that I've never seen the inside of a Septic tank, and hope once your is operational, you won't need to either LOL

[@AdventurousWay]

We were advised that the full suite of water tests isn't something that needs doing regularly. They recommended doing it once every 10 years or so, or if something significant changes with regards to the well and you want to re-check it. However, the coliform (i.e. ecoli) test is recommended every 6 months. Most people likely don't test anything like that frequently though. We did do another coliform test when we returned to Vermont in March and all was good. The nice thing is that the test is relatively inexpensive (I think we paid about $25) and you get the results within as little as 24 hours. And yes, I hope to never see the inside of that tank again once we start using it (which we have now)!

[@chrille_dk]

What type of pressure sensor did you install in the tank? The temperature sensors looks like DS18B20's but I couldn't recognize the pressure sensor. I have a 1000 liter water tank for watering the garden, where I would like to monitor the water level, and neither load cells under the tank, nor an ultrasonic distance sensor, seems like a good idea

[@AdventurousWay]

I opted for this one: amzn.to/40VFeUG (affiliate link) It's a 4-20mA sensor so will have to see how well it does being wired so close to the AC power for the pump, but fingers crossed at the very least it should be accurate when the pump isn't running. I also considered ultrasonic but figured this would be a better option. And yes, the temperature sensors are just DS18B20s.

[@chrille_dk]

@@AdventurousWay Thanks - it looks very interesting. It seems it's available as a 0-10V and a RS485 version as well. 4-20 mA should be pretty resilient. That's how stage lightening was controlled before DMX became a thing!

[@elizabethlarose3632]

Will you test for radon?

[@AdventurousWay]

We did test our well for radon and it was well below any levels of concern. www.adventurousway.com/blog/well-water-testing We also have Airthings View Plus air quality monitor in the RV which also measures radon. But as a cheap insurance, we still plan to put radon barrier under the slab.