For many of us in the modern world, waste is something we flush and forget. We don’t need to know where it goes, or how to gets there. But for people who live with septic tanks or holding tanks instead of modern sewage systems know better.
Septic tanks in homes and holding tanks on boats are relatively simple. Waste comes in from an intake or inlet and separates into three layers. Sludge sits at the bottom, clarified water in the middle, and oily “scum” on top. Water is discharged and solids break down thanks to special bacteria. Without properly functioning pumps, this discharge could fail, leading to backups, overflows, or other issues. If you have a septic tank or holding tank, it’s imperative that you keep your discharge, effluent, and ejector pumps working in top order. That means buying the best hardware upfront when installing a new system, and maintaining and replacing the old one when needed.
SMD Fluid Controls is a leader in float switches and liquid level sensors of all varieties and applications, including sewage pumps and septic tanks. Whether you need a single float for a home system or multiple custom units and OEM design service, SMD can help.
Septic Tank, Effluent Pump, and Ejector Pump Switches from SMD Fluid Controls
These switches serve two purposes in any septic tank or holding tank system:
They sense high levels, activating discharge pumps to avoid overflow or backup.
They sense low levels, deactivating the pump when there’s no more work to do.
This is also known as “point-level sensing,” and SMD Fluid Controls offers a variety of options for point-level sensors.
Horizontal Float Switches
Horizontal sensors are mounted to the side of a tank and can be configured as either normally-open or normally closed. This makes them highly versatile, although they are hard to install in a septic tank if it’s already underground.
Vertical Float Switches
Vertical float switches, like their horizontal counterparts, are either configured as NO or NC. The main difference is in mounting positions: vertical switches are mounted to the top or bottom.
Sump Switches
While more commonly used for sump pumps and basement pumps, these switches may also be used for septic tanks and effluent ejector pumps.