Septic and Grinder Pump Alarm Codes

A Guide to Septic Pump Alarm Lights and Codes

Septic and grinder pump alarms use sound and colored lights to signal high water levels, float issues or stalled pump cycles. A red light on a septic tank often appears when the tank rises past its normal range. A yellow light on a septic system usually points to a developing issue with flow or pump performance. When your septic alarm goes off, the pump control panel is alerting you to act quickly before the tank reaches overflow.

What to Do First When the Alarm Goes Off

A septic or grinder pump alarm can activate without warning, and many homeowners reach for the reset button right away. You can reset a septic pump alarm or grinder pump alarm by pressing the silence or reset switch once. This step quiets the horn but does not clear the red light until the water level returns to normal or a technician corrects the problem. If the panel uses a yellow indicator, the reset will silence the warning tone while the light stays on to signal ongoing performance concerns.

Reduce water use immediately. Stop laundry cycles, limit showering and avoid dishwashers and sinks. High water levels triggered the alarm, so giving the tank time to recover helps prevent backup.

Check the pump’s breaker. A brief outage or tripped breaker can stop pump operation long enough for the water level to rise. Reset the breaker once and leave it alone. Call Area Septic Installation if it trips again.