Septic Grinder pumps

Hello - I have a hung septic system. All the waste drains to a holding tank in the basement of the house where it is periodically processed by two grinder pumps, and then ejected to the septic tanks which is underground in the yard. Everything has worked like clock work so far (5 years in this house, but house is 26 years old). Usually, the grinders come on when the tank is full, and then stop after a couple of minutes.

Yesterday i noticed the pumps were louder than normal, so I ran down to the basement and noticed the pumps were not turning off and there was a rattling noise (kind of like something was stuck and knocking around in the pipes). So I manually turned off the pump and reset the switches to Auto again. Then this morning again, the pumps ran and at first sounded absolutely normal while they were discharging the sewage. But when they got near empty (this is based on my listening to the pumps only), the pumps got louder and that noise as if something was stuck, started again. The pipes also seemed empty at the time, and the pumps kept going. So I turned them off and reset to Auto again.

So, my question is, what is going on? Is there something stuck in there? Or is the sensor broken and the pump doesn't turn off and hence sounds louder since nothing is in the pipes any more? Please note we do not put things down the drains or toilets that shouldn't be going down there.

I will call a septic company to look at it but wanted to be informed before I get taken to the cleaners (literally).

Thank you for any guidance.

 

So you have'nt actually gotten the pump in your hand to look at it??? So, yes it is possible that the pump is going bad and is giving you a warning by sounding like it's grinding coffee.

 

No, I have not. I'm afraid to even open the big cover...LOL! The pumps sound fine when pumping the stuff out, its only near the end that they begin to sound bad, as if there is nothing left to pump but its still running. I'm thinking its something else going on