Russ' Do It Yourself Home Workshop

I know!  Let’s design a septic aerator with an electric motor that sits down in a very caustic environment where the motor and bearings will only last 2-3 years so the homeowner has to constantly replace it.  And when it floods, it’s always good to have electrical power sitting under water!  NOT!

This is the stupidest design in the world.  Poor idiots at Norweco.  They haven’t figured out that electricity and water don’t mix.

No problem…let’s upgrade!  First you need to get an aeration stone like is used on a pond.  I found one on eBay.  It’s a 7" dome diffuser airstone.  It was about $50 or so.

Next, put it on a long length of (properly measured) PVC.  I chose to use electrical conduit.

Next, attach a PVC union for easy installation and removal.

Now you’re getting the idea.  The assembly will be lowered into the chamber where aeration occurs.  Notice the notch taken out of the side of the concrete collar for the air supply line.

You can lower it all the way.

And make the final attachment with the PVC union.  This is where prior measuring and cutting is important!

Now it’s all attached.  See the old electrical outlet?  It’s dead now.

How did the air line get there?  A little digging!

Just a shallow trench.  I think it took me about 45 minutes.  I’m pretty good with a spade.

Covering it back up.

Watering the sod back down.

The final attachment to an aeration pump.  This is a very standard pump I got off eBay.  It’s a Hiblow HP-80 and was $248.00.  A little tubing and fittings and a bit of wiring (it runs all the time) and you’re done.  At this point in time it’s been running for over a year with no issues.  There’s a filter you have to clean and/or replace once or twice a year, but no big deal.  My effluent has never been cleaner!  That’s a nice way of saying, "My @#$% don’t stink!"