When your septic system has to move effluent uphill, across a long stretch of property, or out to a mound or pressurized drain field, gravity alone will not get it there. That is where a pump chamber comes in. We build ours in-house from solid concrete, size them separately from the septic tank, and set them up with accessible risers so the pump and controls stay easy to reach for years to come.
A septic tank is where solids settle out and effluent gets its first treatment. A pump chamber sits after the tank (or after a treatment unit) and holds already-treated effluent until a float switch trips and the pump kicks on. Because the solids are already handled upstream, a pump chamber does not need to match the septic tank in size. It only needs enough working volume, measured from the chamber floor up to the inlet pipe, to hold effluent between pump cycles and give the float switches room to operate without short-cycling the pump.
Keeping these as two separate components, rather than combining them, also keeps the pump and floats out of the same space as sludge and scum. That matters when it comes time to open the lid and service the equipment. Our risers are placed for exactly that reason: pull the lid, reach the floats and pump, and get back to grade without digging.
Two things drive how much capacity and pump power a chamber needs: how high the effluent has to be lifted (the elevation change between the chamber and the drain field or dispersal area) and how far it has to travel horizontally once it is moving. Installers add these together as total dynamic head, since every length of pipe adds friction the pump has to overcome on top of the vertical lift itself.
A short, low-lift run to a drain field just downhill needs far less from a pump chamber than a property where the field sits well above the tank or a hundred feet away. If your site also uses a pressurized or mound system, the pump has to hold enough pressure to distribute effluent evenly across the whole field, not just get it there, which usually calls for a bit more chamber capacity and a more capable pump. Your installer or engineer works out the exact numbers for your site, but knowing whether you are dealing with a straightforward lift or a longer, higher-pressure run helps you and your installer land on the right chamber size and pump pairing before you order.
We manufacture our concrete pump chambers in the sizes below. Each size links to a PDF drawing so you or your installer can confirm dimensions before ordering.
Whether you are replacing a single part or updating your entire septic system yourself, we carry everything you need to get it running again. Our team is always ready to answer questions about pump chambers, floats, risers, or any other part, so you get expert advice alongside the parts themselves.
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A septic tank treats wastewater and separates solids. A pump chamber holds effluent that has already been through that process and stores it until a float switch signals the pump to send it onward. That is why a pump chamber can be smaller than the septic tank feeding it.
Size comes down to how much effluent your household or property produces per day plus the lift and distance your pump has to cover. Give us a call with your daily flow and your site's elevation change and distance to the field, and we will help you match it to one of our sizes.
Onsite sewage systems in BC, including any pump chamber added to one, need to be designed and installed under the Sewerage System Regulation by an authorized person. We supply the chamber itself; your installer or a qualified professional handles the design and permitting for your site.
Check the floats, pump, and alarm at least once a year. Open the riser, make sure the floats move freely and are still attached to the float tree, and confirm the alarm trips when a float is lifted by hand. Catching a stuck float or worn pump early is a lot cheaper than dealing with a backed-up system.
We manufacture and supply pump chambers, distribution boxes, risers, and the accessories that go with them, and we are always glad to talk through what you need. Installation and system design should go through a qualified septic professional who can confirm sizing, elevation, and permitting for your specific property.
Plenty of retrofits add a pump chamber later when a drain field gets relocated uphill or a new area of the property comes into use. Bring us your tank size and the new field's elevation and distance, and we will help you find a chamber that fits alongside what you already have.
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