![zoeller 3 float sewage ejector system zoeller 3 float sewage ejector system](https://www.deppmann.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Sump-and-Sewage-pump-.png)
Now, although it hasn't rained in two months, there is a pretty strong smell. There has never been more than a mild, occasional smell of sewage in the back yard. I have been having to pump the tank every two months for a few years now septic guy says it's because of so much toilet paper, and he shows me the tank each time, it's just full of TP. Most of the time, with an ADU and two trailers parked out back, there are eleven of us living here. It's an important ministry to me, and I've been housing as many guys as I can. I offer low-cost housing to working men struggling with finding affordable housing in Seattle.
![zoeller 3 float sewage ejector system zoeller 3 float sewage ejector system](http://www.rcworst.com/Shared/content/mfr/zoeller/product_imgs/264_rcw_w.jpg)
The outflow pipe at the back of the field (in back yard) is not clogged, and is draining normally. It is a gravity system, two tanks, no pump. The installer went six feet deep, to avoid multiple tree roots. Twice the drainfield has failed, first time because of tree roots pushing up the ground, so I had a new drainfield installed second time, it was overuse of the system, I had more pipes installed, that doubled the size of the field. The tank is 750 gallons, original to the house. I have a 1962 eight-bedroom house with a septic system. Is my system working properly? How does a 3 float system typically work? Just want to get some peace of mind, or call someone out and have them check it out if this is actually not good. After playing with the middle float that is turning the pump on, it seems like when full it would only be pumping for maybe 30 seconds before it would be satisfied and turn off. The bottom float is floating upward as it should I think. However, as soon as I let it go, the pump stopped. I used a stick to pull the middle float upward. However, I just got in there for the heck of it to check the system annually, and noticed it doesnt work this way. (Ie, use a stick to pull the middle pump up, pump turns on, and even if you drop the float it will continue to pump until it reaches the level of the lowest bottom float). This is my first home I bought 2 years ago and I was at the inspection, and could have sworn this is how it worked. I was under the impression that when the middle float floated upward and turned on, it would turn the pump on and the pump would stay on until the bottom float turned off (stopped floating).
![zoeller 3 float sewage ejector system zoeller 3 float sewage ejector system](https://www.plumbingsupply.com/images/zoeller-waste-mate-290-nonauto.jpg)
I can see the bottom float floating in the tank water. Top float sounds the alarm, and the middle float kicks the pump on. Effluent flows from my septic tank to a 500 gal dosing tank, where a pump pumps it uphill into the sand mound. I am in PA with a raised mound septic system.