I used to have to charge people to come reset them. Instead, I made this video and just sent them the link to save them the $100 service fee. I only hope I can save more people money for a simple task.
I hated seeing customers with high water alarms, or having to pay $100 for me to come out because their alarm was going off. All owners should know how to set a timer. So, an easy free video.
Thanks for this video. When in the timer position, will the pump run continuously during those hours, or only as long as is needed for the float to get back to the low position?
It will run when the pump float it up. Once the pump float goes down, it will shut off. If you put enough water back into the system to raise the float again inside the pump time window, it will pump again.
The answer to your question “when in the timer position, will the pump run continuously during those hours“? No. It will not run continuously. It will run when the bottom float is up until the float is down and it will automatically shut off. That is what the middle position “timer position“ is for. The top position “on demand“ is exactly what it says “on demand“ So it will run regardless of float being up or down. You do not want to leave it in that position especially when it stops spraying because the water level is not high enough and the pump will continuously be running and overheat and burn up and cost serious dollars to replace...
@@Shindog-jg2jo Wrong info because ON DEMAND means it will run as long as the float is up regardless of the timer. So it will spray anytime of the day when the float is up.
@@dadalhayek695 I assume mines wired differently. Mine stays on When the flow goes down, I thought about that after I posted my initial comment. I will check into this wiring this week, thanks for the info. To me the word demand should be changed to AUTO since it works automatically when the float rises and shuts off when it lowers. When I placed mine in the top position it comes on and stays on and does not shut off when the float is down I have to turn it off. And when I use the timer settings all of them will be on and I can select it’s to be OFF..
NOT SO SLIM JIM right now showers. I’ve got the access plug (not sure what it’s called) off outside and there’s water backed up into that too. I think there may be a clog or something past that plug? Had to love our gender reveal party because of this lol
@@traceyevans2757 if you are speaking of the 4-6" pvc cap that is within 6' from the house, that's your clean out. More than likely your sanitary T is clogged. How many lids do you have on your system? If it's a standard 3 lid, open the first one and look at the pipe coming from the house that dumps (lol), into the first tank. Most of the time that is where a clog with form. You can clear that out with a water hose. If not, keep the lid open and stick the garden hose down the clean out towards the tank and run it down till it stops. Pull it back and forth till the block breaks free. You will tell because a rush of poo with shoot down the pipe into the first tank.
The lines are not pressurized all the time. Not having water in them all the time means they won't freeze and crack. The tank being underground keeps it above freezing, and will not freeze in the short time it takes to pump.
Now saying that, if your system is not installed correctly or not up to code (lines 10" below ground, spray heads not mounted at surface level, or proper backflow drainage from lines.... You may have issues.
I had mine in the down position, assumed it was off but pump still came on. I’m assuming if it’s in the down position and off, does it have a way to over ride the off position. Trying to understand with it off why the pump still came on. There was no alarm or anything. I was working in the yard, turned the timer to off but eventually the pump still came on.
Depends on the manufacturer of the timer. Some use different positions. You can look it up online to see what position is what if you don't have the manual that came with the system. Depending on the system, most new systems have a pump bypass that will turn the pump on without the timer. Most installers just use cheap zip ties to secure them, so it may have come loose allowing it to come on before the high water alarm. Or, they put the bypass before the high water alarm. If you want to be in the backyard to do work and 100% not get soaked in the poo water, you can simply turn the pump breaker off, and back on when you are done.
@@NOTSOSLIMJIM that’s a huge help, thank you. My system is only two years old so I’m going to assume it has an over ride even if the timer is turned off. That would explain it.
If I set the switch in the "On Demand" position for 1am to 6am, but the water level gets high at 2pm, will it pump then? Or, will it ONLY pump during the set times, running a risk of the alarm going off outside the set times?
Ok. Three positions. Off, will only spray when the 2nd float is up and the water level is high. On demand, will turn on the pump any time the first float is up. Or timed, that will spray only during the hours set, or if the 2nd float goes up and the water is high.
You don't want you system to go into high water. If you have a nyadic or any tank in tank, that could cost you hundreds in pumpout costs. The lines are far enough down that they will not freeze. If you want, you can set the system to only go off during the day when it is less likely to hard freeze, but the water coming out will be of decent temp.
Normal your box with have a "pump Test" switch that does that. If not, turn it to "on demand", and if their is enough water to raise the first float, the pump will start spraying.
In the middle position where usually you want the switch to be when working with timer, pump will run when water level is high enough and timer start time sets start. If you want to manually turn and test sprinklers then switch to upwards position and system will start as long as there is enough water in tank. If it doesn’t turn on it’s usually not enough water. It does this to prevent the pump from running dry and possibly damaging it.
@@NOTSOSLIMJIMhello. Mine is wired with a plug and set to middle position. Will it stop spraying by itself when it's empty of water or do I need to unplug it to make it stop. I just bought a mobile home and have no idea how to work it
Two ways of doing this. One, you may have a "test" button or switch on, or inside, the control box. Normally there are three test buttons/switches. One will be to test the light. One for the audio alarm, one for the pump. If the pump is not working, switch the timer to "on demand", and try again. If still no luck, you may have a three float setup. That would be a low float that doesn't allow the pump to come on without a minimum amount of water. The middle float will be the "pump float" to turn the pump on with the timer. The top float will be the alarm float to let you know the system is full. If still nothing, the water is low, try layer in the day. If still nothing, you will need to open the furthest lid from the house, "the pump chamber", and use a long hook (we use one made of 1'' pcv, and lift the floats.
@ramiromoreno1386 does it have a control box? You may have a LPD (low pressure doesing) system. It is a conventional system with an electrical pump at the end. You can tell by if it has an air pump by the box. If it has an air pump, it's an aeration system. If no air pump, it's most likely an LPD. In both cases, the float on the pump will shut the pump off when the water gets low.
Yes, very common timer. If you have power and it's not rotating. More than likely it's bad. They can be found for "cheap" on amazon and are simple to replace. Make sure the power is off at the breaker and pull the timer. Replace one wire at a time to the new unit and replace. Should take about 10-15 minutes all in.
@@NOTSOSLIMJIM Yup, these are the new replacements I got from an Online store. Old ones work just fine but the heat destroyed the clock hand and some of the little notches. New ones are not rotating. Will try and do just what you said.
Lol, I can't tell you how many service call I have gotten from people turning off their breaker, or a tripped breaker. I'm just happy you got is sorted out without having to spend any money!
Has your system turned on at all recently? If it just sprayed, and you tried to turn the pump on manually, it may not turn on if wired with the lower float. Many systems will not turn on from the manual switch if the lower pump float is not in the up position to protect the pump from running dry.
@@ivanmoreno8969 before you buy a new on, trying spinning it a few times and setting the time. They can get stuck. If it doesn't keep time, get a new one.
After a massive hail hit, I replaced my red alarm light and now it is always on but very dim. In run mode, I also get fast chirping but in mute, silence. In test mode, good light and alarm?????? I think my pump is short cycling as well.....Timer?
If the light is slightly lit, and alarm is chirping, you have a voltage bleed. They both take 110v to activate, but if a lover voltage is being sent across, it can allow them to malfunction. Most likely, it will either be water in the connection box in, or just outside the tank, where all the floated and pump connect. Or you have a bad alarm float that's seal went bad and got water into it.
@@NOTSOSLIMJIM It all seemed to happen after the hail ball went through the top of the box taking out the light assy. Found my timer not working this morning it will not turn the dial manually and locks up. Could it be the timer with water in it ? Floats all seem to work properly when tested but I might be able to un plug and test them
@@ElonMuskX if the timer doesn't turn, if did probably get water in it and short out. I would need to look at the circuit design for your box to see how it is wired to see if the alarm draws power from the timer. Normal they do not. Most cases they draw power from the multifunction test switch and the alarm float. If just the alarm was chirping, which they can do when they start do go bad, I'd say that may be the issue. But, with both the chirping and light on, it sounds more like a voltage leak. If you have a multimeter, you can check to see if their is any voltage going to either the alarm or light. If you have an aerating system, unplug one of the leads in the back of the air sensor to see if that fixes the issue, if so. The air sensor is bad. More than likely your water pump is only working off the bypass float at the moment due to the timer not functioning, I literally just fixed one with that issue last night in Manor TX.
@@NOTSOSLIMJIM Yes the pump was short cycling, I confirmed that this morning and a bad timer. Both the piazo buzzers test the same and seem to be ok. The two lights share a common white wire. I do have power going to the red light all the time (dim light) I will test the pressure switch today but that is for the other light. Pump off and compressor off with just alarm circuit on I have same issue.....
OK, Found the timer locking up so I replaced it. Old timer had a piece of plastic broken off under the dial. Also found the alarm float causing the problem. Although I tested the float and it functions fine in the down position it must have an internal power bleed. I do not have a splice box everything is run direct to panel. Thanks all!!!!! If my new float don't fix it, I am permanently deleting the alarm....LOL
It depends on your system. Most systems the test button will only set the alarms and lights off to make sure they work. Others, it will turn the spray pump on, but normally only as long as you hold the switch.
Most companies will charge between $75-200. Honestly, you can do it yourself in 15 minutes. Just flip off the breakers inside the box. Remove the mounting screws around the outside face of the timer. Once it's loose, replace one wire at a time from the old one to the new one, or just take a picture with your phone before you unhook the old one.
Best way to test your timer is to check to see if you have enough water in the pump tank to lift the pump float. Once it us up, flip the timer to "on demand". It should spray. Then turn the timer to "timed" and rotate the clock till it's in the spray window. It should spray. If it is not spraying either of the times, or with the spray test switch, it may be the float. It also depends if the pump float is wired inline with the pump (the float interrupts the hot wire in the in tank junction box), or is the float is run upto the control box and wired into the controllers.
NOT SO SLIM JIM OK great thanks, I’ve tried manipulating the timer to get it to go off but it doesn’t respond to the off or on time setting, it always sprays randomly throughout The day and it doesn’t respond to the spray window either.
NOT SO SLIM JIM so again, while it’s spraying and in the off position, I’ve tried rotating the timer to an off window, alternating the 3-position switch between off, on time, and on demand, the only way to turn it off was to pull the power interruptor.
Wait till the evening when you have used some water, then put it to "on demand". The spray heads should come on. Them set back to timed spray and rotate the timer till it's in the spray time, they should spray. Reset the timer and you are good to go.
@@NOTSOSLIMJIM hey partner thanks for responding. This is a rent house of mine and the alarm is going off but I can manually make the head pop up and spray. My aerator is working also and I checked my top float and it’s good. It may be my bottom float so I will also pull that out tomorrow and Che k it if my timer is good.
@@nathanurick8320 the average system has two floats. The lower float tells the system there is enough water to turn on, and shuts the pump off when it goes down. The upper float is the alarm float to let the user know water is too high. Rotate the timer to where it's a later time when it is supposed to be pumping. If it doesn't work, more than likely the pump float (lower float, timer, or wiring has an issue.
@@NOTSOSLIMJIM I will for sure try this. I can’t stand calling a repair guy if I can figure out and usually it’s something fairly simple. Thank you. I might send you a message tomorrow if I get it to work. I just hope my pump isn’t bad because they are not cheap.
