ATU & Aerobic System Service in Lake, Sumter & Marion County, FL
- Price
- Flat annual agreement
- Time
- Inspections under an hour
- Coverage
- Lake, Sumter & Marion County
An aerobic treatment unit (ATU) is a septic system with a motor: an air pump feeds oxygen to bacteria that treat wastewater to a higher standard than a conventional tank. Florida requires ATUs to be under a maintenance agreement, and unlike a plain tank, an ATU that is ignored will stop working.
ATUs get installed where conventional systems can’t go: small lots, poor soil, high water tables, and environmentally sensitive areas. More Central Florida homes have them every year, and plenty of owners inherit one at closing without being told what it is.
In short: an ATU has an air pump running around the clock, a control panel, an alarm, and a state-required service agreement.
We service, repair, and maintain ATUs across Lake, Sumter, and Marion County, with inspections on schedule, parts when they fail, and a straight answer on the phone about which brands we can and cannot support.
Signs you need ATU service
- The alarm or panel light is on (usually the aerator or a high water level)
- A humming aerator has gone silent (the bacteria start dying within days)
- Sewage smell where there didn’t used to be one (aerobic systems shouldn’t smell)
- Your maintenance agreement lapsed, or you bought a house and never signed one
- Gray or cloudy water coming out at the discharge point
- It’s been 6+ months since anyone inspected the unit
What’s included
- Scheduled inspections under a maintenance agreement, per Florida requirements
- Aerator/compressor testing, repair, and replacement
- Float, alarm, and control panel diagnosis and repair
- Filter and diffuser cleaning, plus chlorinator check and tablet service where fitted
- Tank pumping when sludge levels call for it (ATUs still need pumping)
- Service records kept and reported as the county requires
What it costs
Maintenance agreements at a flat annual rate, quoted over the phone at (352) 298-9384. Repairs are priced with the part named, in writing. If your aerator dies, we tell you the replacement cost before we order it, and whether a rebuild makes more sense.
How long it takes & what to expect
Routine inspections take under an hour. Aerator swaps are usually same-visit when we know your unit’s make. New maintenance agreements start with a baseline inspection so you know exactly what condition the unit is in on day one.
On the job
- Scheduled inspections under a maintenance agreement, per Florida requirements
- Aerator and compressor testing, repair and replacement
- Floats, alarms and control panels checked and fixed
- Maintenance records handled and reported to the county
Why Martin Septic
- We service both ATUs and conventional systems, so you get the right advice, not a pitch for the one we happen to sell.
- Maintenance records handled and reported, so the county requirement becomes our job, not yours.
- Straight parts pricing: the part, the number, in writing, before it’s ordered.
- Aerator, floats, alarm, and chlorinator all looked at on the same visit.
- ATUs still need pumping, and that is our flat $350 with the digging included.
Frequently asked questions
What is an aerobic treatment unit (ATU)?
A septic system that injects air so oxygen-loving bacteria treat wastewater to a higher standard than a conventional tank. It has an aerator running continuously, a control panel, and an alarm: essentially a small treatment plant in your yard.
Does Florida require ATU maintenance?
Yes, Florida requires aerobic systems to be under a maintenance agreement with routine inspections, and counties track compliance. If yours has lapsed, getting a new agreement in place is the fix. We handle the inspections and the reporting.
My ATU alarm is on, is it an emergency?
It’s urgent, not always an emergency. Most commonly the aerator has stopped or the water level is high. Cut back on water use and call. A dead aerator should be addressed within days, because the treatment bacteria begin dying without air.
Do aerobic systems still need pumping?
Yes. ATUs treat better but still accumulate sludge, and they typically need pumping on a similar or shorter cycle than conventional tanks. Sludge checks are part of routine maintenance visits.
How long does an ATU aerator last?
Typically 3–7 years depending on brand, load, and whether it’s protected from weather and ants (a real killer here). Replacements are usually same-visit. We quote the part in writing before ordering.
Related
Other services
Towns we serve
ATU alarm on, or agreement lapsed?
Flat-rate maintenance agreements, honest repairs, records handled.
Call (352) 298-9384