The Septic Services Gazette

There are various types of aerators used in aerobic septic systems. A shaft-style aerator is one type that has been used for many years because of its dependability and performance. The shaft-style aerator that is maintained properly will operate for many years but if you suspect your aerator is not working properly here are aerator troubleshooting hints you can check to ensure your aerator is working properly.

Symptom: Aerator has stopped

Symptom: Aerator drawing too much current

Sympton: Aerator making load noises

If you use a shaft-style aerator in your septic tank, you will need to preform some regular aerator maintenance to ensure the aerator operates efficiently.

Like any aerator type that may be used in an aerobic septic system, the shaft-style aerator introduces dissolved oxygen into your septic tank to encourage the growth of aerobic bacteria.

An under-performing aerator will not efficiently perform this task and will reduce the overall efficiency of your entire septic system.

Here are some maintenance tips that you can perform to ensure that your shaft-style aerator is operating properly. Remember to disconnect power from aerator before performing these tasks.

1 . Remove aerator from septic tank riser and set on riser lid.

• Check aerator shaft for debris and clean as necessary
• Ensure air intake is not blocked
• Check tank and riser for evidence of sewer back up
• Check electrical wires for worn spots and replace as needed
• Check electrical plug ends for corrosian and replace as needed

2. Re-install aerator (take care not to bend shaft and brackets).

• Check for proper voltage at the electrical plug end
• Check amerage to determine health of motor
• Check both neutral and ground wire for current (Any voltage indicates bad wire underground.)
• Ensure proper size mini-breaker for aerator unit being serviced.

It’s recommended to perform these maintenance tasks as prescribed by the aerator manufacturer or anytime you believe that your aerator may not be performing properly.

Here’s a handy step-by-step guide describing the proper installation procedure for a shaft–style septic aerator.
Related Articles: Aerator Types | Understanding Septic Tank Aeration

1. Disconnect the power from existing aerator.
   Water and electricity don’t play well together so it’s very important to take safety precautions. Make sure that you disconnect the power from existing aerator prior to removing aerator from tank. If the power to the aerator is on a house breaker, do not just flip the breaker off.
2. Ensure the tank does not require pumping.
   Once the aerator is removed from the tank, use a flashlight and inspect the interior of the tank. If you find a lot of floating debris then your tank likely requires pumping. If it’s been over 4-5 years since your last tank pumping or if you do not know when the tank was last pumped then you should have the tank pumped out prior to replacing the aerator. Just replacing the aerator by itself without pumping the tank will not improve the performance of your septic system
3. Determine and resolve reason for failure of original aerator.
   Once the existing aerator is out of the tank, inspect it for wear. In some case, debris may wrap around the shaft causing the unit to fail. This would be an indication that your tank needs to be pumped. Determine if there is a sewer backup or blockage in the outlet pipe of the septic tank. Also check for an electrical problem. Use a voltage meter to check the power at the tank to ensure that power is working correctly. Replacing an aerator without addressing these issues will not resolve your septic system problem.
4. Assemble the unit per the manufacturer’s instructions.
   You’re now ready to assemble the aerator unit. Follow the manufacturer’s assembly instructions that were included with the aerator.
5. Install aerator in tank.
   Place the aerator, shaft end first, into the tank through the riser. The lower motor housing brackets should rest on the bottom of the riser opening and the top brackets should fit snuggly against the sides of the tank riser.
   • Make sure you are using the proper size mini-breaker in the control panel or use the manufacturer supplied mini-breaker. An improperly sized breaker does not provide proper protection from aerator failure
   • Make sure nothing is interfering with the rotation of the shaft such as loose wires
   • Make sure aerator brackets are tight and that aerator is secure in tank riser. A loose aerator will not operate properly and will wear out quicker.
   • Make sure electrical plug end is free of corrosion
   • Ensure proper voltage reading of power to aerator. Insufficient power will reduce the ability of the aerator to produce proper air flow into tank
   • Make sure control panel or timer is set correctly per manufacturer’s instructions
6. Reconnect power to aerator.
   Aerators are made to run continuously and do not have on/off switch. Once you plug the aerator into the electrical source, the aerator will start.
7. Replace the tank riser cover.

Once you’ve followed these steps and your aerator should be operating properly. We recommend that you inspect the aerator every few months to ensure that is continuing to operate properly. If you need to remove the aerator to inspect it, make sure you follow the safety precautions outlined above.