General Advise Needed

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My (elderly) parents live in a residential suburb with no city sewer. They have a lagoon system for the neighborhood, but each house has a separate septic tank as well - I've been told that their septic system is "gravity fed" or something like that (I know NOTHING about these things.) I guess basically the tank just allows solid waste to settle and has a line out for the water to go the neighborhood lagoon.

Anyway, never had a problem until now. Pump alarm went off. My brother thinks he can just take out the pump, buy a new one, stick it back in and all is well. He's not a plumber, just fairly mechanical, but says it's easy and nothing to it - just pull it out, replace, plug in and go. He says the pump is basically just to blow air. He actually did pull it out and says it's broken. He actually wanted to try to fix it and I said heck, why not just replace it (they bought the house new in 2002 so I know it's an 11 year old pump).

I want to know is it really this simple? Or are there issues he's not thinking about? I called a local company and they wanted $1050 to repair (or replace, not sure) the pump. That worried me - made me think there is a LOT more to this than just buying a new pump and plugging it in. Thoughts???
 
If it is a air pump it should be outside the tank & very easy to replace.

You can get them online.

What is the name on the air pump?

What is the brand name of system they have?

What state are they in ?

By the way most air pumps only last 3 -5 years before they need a new diaphragm.
 
If it is a air pump it should be outside the tank & very easy to replace.

You can get them online.

What is the name on the air pump?

What is the brand name of system they have?

What state are they in ?

By the way most air pumps only last 3 -5 years before they need a new diaphragm.

Not sure of the name or brand of system - I will go over there today and find out and post back here. This is in North Mississippi (just outside of Memphis).

Sounds like this really isn't that hard to fix. What specifically does this pump *do* - I'm just trying to understand. Sounds like it's just an aerator of sorts? How does that affect the processes going on inside the tank? Just curious! Thanks!!
 
The pump aerates the sewage which helps reduce TSS's, BOD's & TNN.

If it was a new system in 2002 it is probably a 3 compartment tank with the aeration taking place in middle chamber.

If you can post a picture.

If what you are calling a pump is in the tank. It is an aerator & it is probably a Jet or Norweco.

The brand name will be on the control panel.
 
You can call the phone# on the air pump to get a new one or do an internet search to find a company that sells them online.

Should be easy to replace, but I have never worked on one those. They are the same company that makes cajuanaire.

Your system will still work without the air pump it just won't reduce the TSS's. If the tank has not been pumped in 11 years it's time to get it pumped.
 

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