A pressure sewer system uses small-diameter pipes and grinder pumps installed at each home. The sewer lines are buried just below the frost line and follow the countours of the land ("up and down" hills or a constant grade across flat land, for example).
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The grinder pump station collects all of the wastewater from the home and grinds it into slurry. The wastewater is then pumped to a wastewater treatment plant or system, a gravity manhole, a larger sewer main or to a septic system.
The design process includes the following steps:
1. Collect information: Project layout showing location of connections (scaled); contour information; discharge location
2. Sketch a proposed pipe network layout: Flow should generally always head towards the discharge; no loops
3. Create zones designations where flow changes: More pumps operating simultaneously; and where two branches connect
4. Perform hydraulic calculations. E/One Design Assistant software is available for free in the Design Center
5. Optimize the design as required
E/One offers a no-cost preliminary design service to help users evaluate the feasibility of a pressure sewer for a project. Visit the E/One Design Center for more information.
E/One recommends that combination air/vacuum valves be utilized.
Air/vacuum valves, air release valves and combination air valves prevent the concentration of air at high points within a system. This is accomplished by exhausting large quantities of air as the system is filled and by releasing pockets of air as they accumulate while the system is in operation and under pressure. Air/vacuum valves and combination air valves also prevent a potentially destructive vacuum from forming.
Air/vacuum valves should be installed at all system high points and significant changes in grade. Combination air valves should be installed at those high points where air pockets can form. Air release valves should be installed at intervals of 2,000 to 2,500 feet on all long horizontal runs that lack a clearly defined high point.
Air release stations are available from E/One. Consult your local distributor for more information.
A grinder pump may be needed if your community has a low pressure sewer system, your home is located below grade from the sewer line and you need to pump uphill, or your home is located far away from the sewer line and connecting by a gravity sewer line is not possible.
Grinder pump are also installed to serve the basement of a home when a bathroom, kitchenette, etc is added to a home and the wastewater needs to be pumped vertically.
The life expectancy of an E/One grinder pump is difficult to pinpoint. There are many variables that contribute to the life expectancy of a grinder pump, such as: proper installation, system design, system pressure, run time, and what items go down the drain and into the pump.
E/One grinder pump have been known to last well over 20 years in some cases. The published average mean time between service calls is 10 years.
All of the wastewater in your home from toilets, showers, dishwashers, sinks, etc. empties into the grinder pump station. When the water in the tank reaches a certain level, the pump will turn on automatically and pump the wastewater to the sewer system. Most of the time, you won't even notice the pump running; it produces about the same level of noise as a washing machine and usually runs for only a few minutes.
Do not dump oil, grease, paint, strong chemicals, sand, kitty litter, etc. down your drain. Feminine products and personal/cleaning wipes should be disposed of in a garbage can. These items should not be flushed into any sewer or septic system. They can damage your pump or build up in the tank and prevent your pump from working properly.
The only items that should be going down your drains are water, regular toilet paper, and human waste. The following items should not be introduced into the grinder pump station (or any sewer system); they can damage or cause premature problems (parts wearing out) with your pump, or build up in the tank and block your pump from working properly.
Do not dump large amounts of grease, paint, strong chemicals, and avoid putting sand, kitty litter, etc. down your drain.
Feminine products and personal/cleaning wipes (even if they're marked "flushable") should be disposed of in a garbage can, not flushed. "Flushable" only means that the wipes will fit through your home's pipes, not that they will break down in water.
Refer to our Grinder Pump Owners Guide for more information about what not to flush.
The alarm on your grinder pump station will sound when the wastewater in the tank reaches a certain level ("alarm level").
An alarm may occur if a large amount of water goes into the tank and rises above the pump's alarm level, such as emptying a large whirlpool bathtub. After the pump "catches up," the alarm turns off by itself and does not turn on again. We call this a "nuisance alarm." Frequent nuisance alarms during normal water usage (showers, washing machine, etc) may indicate that the pump is having trouble "keeping up" with pumping and needs service.
A nuisance alarm may also occur after a power outage: wastewater may be above the pump’s alarm level and the pump needs a few minutes to pump down the tank to a normal level. If the alarm doesn't turn off, call for service.
An alarm will occur if the pump has stopped working and wastewater in the tank rises above the pump's alarm level. Discontinue water use to avoid causing a backup or overflow. Never silence the alarm and continue using water if your pump is not working; you will cause a backup or overflow and possibly damage the pump.
If the alarm turns off after a few minutes and does not turn on again, the grinder pump should be OK. Check regularly to ensure that the grinder pump is operating and the alarm is not on.
If the alarm turns on and off repeatedly or turns on and stays on, call an authorized service center for service. Discontinue water use to avoid causing a backup or overflow.
Look on your alarm panel for a service sticker with a number. If no service sticker is on the panel, call our Service Link (USA) at 1-866-539- to find a service center near you.
E/One grinder pumps come with an alarm panel. If your grinder pump is working properly, you shouldn't notice it at all — the pump will turn on as needed and pump down the tank; its noise level is similar to that of a washing machine. The pump will turn off after a few minutes.
If your pump stops working, the alarm panel's red light will blink and a buzzer will sound. If the alarm doesn't turn off after a few minutes, call for service. Look on your panel box for our Service Link number.
Drain cleaner can be used, but choose carefully: use a household (not industrial strength) drain cleaner and follow the instructions on the bottle. Then, flush enough water to ensure that the pump turns on so the pump isn't sitting in the chemical for any period of time.
Refer to the ingredients or MSDS information for the drain cleaner. Please contact us if you need additional information.
Yes, you can rinse paint brushes, but get off as much paint as you can before you start rinsing brushes. This is a good idea for your pipes as much as it is for your grinder pump.
Never disposed of unused paint down the drain -- paint of any kind should never be introduced into a sewer system of any kind per the EPA.
Sizing and selecting an appropriate grinder pump station is important for ensuring long life of the pump. The following are basic guidelines for station sizing. Visit the Design Center or contact E/One if you need further assistance.
E/One manufactures one grinder pump that is available with a number of different tank sizes. Station sizing takes many factors into consideration including:
- Residential or non-residential/commercial application
- Expected total daily flow (not the number of water-using fixtures)
- Regulatory guidelines (local, regional, or national)
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The most common application for pressure sewer systems is single-family, residential applications. A grinder pump station is located at each home and is sized to accommodate the home. The most popular residential E/One grinder pump station is the DH071.
Other configurations are available. Contact your local distributor for help choosing what is best for your region and need.
Sizing E/One grinder pump stations for non-residential and commercial applications is more complex. Commercial grinder pump station sizing considers many of the same factors as residential appliations, especially total daily flow. E/One typically uses known/estimated flow from the Table H 201.1 (4) from UPC Appendix H. This estimates flow based on intended use of the site and the intended occupancy. E/One avoids using fixture counts because, in our experience, flow is typically overestimated and results in an oversized system.
Constant, predictable pump output is the foundation for proper hydraulic design. It enables the engineer to minimize retention time, pump wear and deep scouring action at effective levels. E/One's semi-positive displacement (SPD) grinder pump was developed for wastewater applications. Pumps & Systems magazine featured an article about SPD pumps for pressure sewer systems that compares SPD and centrifugal pumps.
E/One offers grinder pump stations for residential (simplex stations) and light commercial (duplex through quadplex stations) applications. All grinder pump stations use the 1 hp Extreme Series pump. Visit the Product Catalog for the available tank capacities, tank materials and GPD ratings.
E/One's grinder pump lends itself to complex system designs because of its nearly vertical pump curve and the resulting nearly identical flow rate allows a wide variety of discharge heads. The predictable flows of the SPD pumps provide tolerance of widely varying system pressures.
SPD grinder pumps are crucial to the success operation of a pressure sewer system. The performance characteristics of SPD pumps assist in maintaining a sewer network free from blockages. When deposition of solids occurs, tending to block the pipe, centrifugal pumps will move toward shut off, reducing flow and velocity and increasing the tendency to block the pipe. SPD pumps constantly scour the lines to prevent buildup because flow is maintained although pressure or head increased, effectively scouring the pipe.
A grinder pump station that is too tall shouldn't be a problem other than aesthetics and possibly being in the way. The station can be shortened, but contact E/One or your local distributor for proper instructions.
A grinder pump station that is too short can allow infiltration into the tank. If this happens, the pump will run much more often than necessary, possibly introduce sand, stones or other debris, and cause problems (or a shorter life) for the pump. In this case, the E/One Extender or another E/One accessway extension is needed. Contact E/One or your local distributor to determine what extension you need.
Undoubtedly, you've often found yourself in the following predicament: A property owner needs restroom amenities or a commercial kitchen in a location without existing plumbing, or where the nearest plumbing line is several feet away. They call on you for an inspection, evaluation and cost estimate. The challenge? It is either very expensive to cut the floor open or even impossible to achieve.
Faced with the inevitable of creating below-floor drainage, either through conventional plumbing or sewage ejection, it quickly becomes apparent that breaking through concrete is necessary. This approach, however, is messy, noisy, time-intensive, and expensive. So expensive, in fact, that your quote may very well lead the client to reconsider the project entirely.
For trade professionals, navigating concrete obstacles is just another day at the office. Yet, for others, it might be less welcome. Regardless, it's often seen as par for the course in this line of work. Should a client be deterred by the involved hassles, you simply move on to the next project.
Fortunately, there is a viable, cost-effective solution to the laborious process of trenching: the above-floor drain pump system. Above-floor grinder pump systems are not only convenient but also offer significant cost savings. However, faced with the scenario described, many plumbers overlook this alternative, likely due to unfamiliarity.
But, even if above-floor plumbing technology is new to you, it's worth contemplating the serious risks associated with breaking through concrete floors. These are concerns worth discussing thoroughly with your client before embarking on such a project... and perhaps considering a less invasive method.
Cutting concrete undermines structural integrity: Any time you cut into a slab, you decrease the foundational integrity of the building — no matter how close to a perfect cut you make. You may be able to patch the hole you create well enough to eliminate any aesthetic objections from your customer. But is that floor as solid as it was before you began to cut? We would bet not — especially if you fail to use the same or a better grade of concrete. And if the building sits on ground that’s less than solid, such as sand, it may begin to settle differently after the cut.
In a multi-floor building, cutting into a slab on the second, third, fourth levels to run plumbing beneath the floor would be a huge no-no. That’s why commercial-renovation projects that require additional plumbing will typically use external soil stacks, putting the external plumbing tree on the outside of the building. Well, if you shouldn’t cut into any of the upper levels of a building, why would you think you could safely cut into the first-level — the slab on which everything else sits?
Cutting concrete is unpredictable: Installers don’t always know the depth of the concrete, whether it sits on rocks or a ledge, or whether it contains rebar or tension cables. You can cause major damage if you accidentally cut one of those cables. Professional contractors understand this hazard and never begin cutting without first using an x-ray machine to determine the positioning of the cables.
But even then, the slab was most likely designed to use a certain number of cables with a certain amount of concrete. If you begin removing chunks of concrete, those tension wires may begin pulling in a different direction, creating integrity problems and causing delays and extra expense.
Cutting concrete is seldom, if ever, perfect: You may try as hard as you can to cut a perfect circle, square or rectangle into a floor for burying a sewage ejector and its waste-storage basin — but no way. That “perfect” shape will inevitably crack on the edges and fray outward in unintended directions, often well beyond the hole you’re digging. And once a stress crack is created, how far down does it extend into the footing or into the walls?
Cutting concrete creates leaks and seepage: Once a stress crack is generated, radon and ground-water penetration is a major issue, with the latter bringing unwanted moisture and mold problems as well. You don’t need a major flood to trigger these hazards. A higher-than-usual water table because of extended wet weather, such as in the spring, could be the culprit. Even if the cracks and seepage are not large enough to jeopardize the foundation, enough wetness could infiltrate to ruin walls, floors and furnishings in a finished living area — including that beautiful new bathroom that necessitated digging through the concrete in the first place.
Cost factors: Last, but certainly not least, there’s the problem we mentioned at the outset of this article, the one that often proves to be the biggest deal-breaker of all: cost. The actual expense of cutting concrete depends on the size and complexity of the job, as well as local labor availability and rates. In some parts of the nation, the per-foot rate may be $1,000 or more.
Seeing these costs, some plumbers outsource the work and are content to make little or no markup on their sub’s charges. Others, preferring to keep the job in-house, absorb the time and cost of renting the cutting and hammering tools and lugging them on and off the job site; or, if they choose to buy, the cost of maintaining and replacing these tools, as well as depreciation.
Perhaps the biggest and most painful expense of all is the “lost-opportunity” cost. With above-floor plumbing, creating a new bathroom or kitchen where none exists usually takes a day, maybe two at most, to install the basic plumbing. Go the busting-through-concrete route and you’ll be on the job triple or quadruple that amount of time and likely more. What other work could you be doing all those extra days — more profitable work that you like much better and are really good at — instead of wrestling with broken concrete and all the hassles it brings?
No doubt, installing conventional plumbing requires major construction. In fact, based on the pitfalls shared above, it could be even more expensive and complicated if your customer’s space is in an older building or a high-rise, where it's difficult to change the plumbing infrastructure.
Let’s take a closer look at above-floor grinder pump systems as an effective, cost-efficient alternative to trenching.
Pre-assembled grinding pump systems are capable of discharging wastewater from multiple fixtures. No matter how big your project is, for commercial or residential purposes, above or below ground, one or two motors, an above-floor grinder pump offers a cost-effective alternative to trenching.
Consider Saniflo’s Sanicubic range of pre-assembled, simplex and duplex pump systems. The Sanicubic Vortex Series features a vortex-type impeller that delivers clog-free handling of solids up to two inches in diameter. The series is engineered for highly demanding, rugged-duty applications that involve much larger or harder objects than what is typically flushed down a toilet.
The Vortex Series is intended to provide above-floor drainage for multiple plumbing fixtures for an entire residential or commercial structure, thus eliminating the need for costlier and less convenient trenching or pit installations.
Two models are available: the Sanicubic 1VX, equipped with a single, 1.5-horsepower motor (“simplex”); and the Sanicubic 2VX, equipped with two such motors (“duplex”). Both lift stations are capable of discharging through two-inch or four-inch rigid pipe and offer a shut-off head of 43 feet. Both are meant to be connected to a high voltage (220V-240V) but can be connected to 208 V (min).
In a recent application involving a 10,000-square-foot building used as a daycare, one end of the structure had no available plumbing. The daycare tenant, therefore, had to add six bathrooms to meet its needs. Four of those bathrooms were promptly placed on the exterior wall using rear discharge toilets, but the two bathrooms for the interior presented a challenge.
Initially, another plumber tried to solve the problem by installing a smaller and less powerful drain pump for the two interior facilities, but it proved unreliable. As the second plumber on the job, Nathan Farmer of Farmer’s Plumbing realized that a different type of drainage solution was needed and contacted Saniflo for assistance.
One of the issues the daycare faced was the children and facility staff's high usage of these bathrooms and their misuse. “Some of the occupants were flushing items such as paper towels and other materials that were not suitable for the existing system, causing clogs and other problems,” explains Farmer, identifying the problem that needed to be addressed.
Realizing that a more reliable solution was required, Farmer recommended a bigger, more rugged pump model to meet the daycare’s demanding requirements.
With the help of a local supplier, the Saniflo Sanicubic 1 VX heavy-duty duplex Vortex system was suggested to Farmer as the solution.
Farmer readily admits that he was in uncharted territory despite his years of plumbing experience, but he faced the challenge head-on with careful planning and skill.
Each of the two bathrooms has two toilets and two sinks. A small storage closet is tucked away in the corner of each bathroom. Additionally, a kitchen sink is approximately 10 feet from the toilets.
The wastewater from the two bathrooms and the kitchen sink feeds into the vortex pump unit. The unit pumps the wastewater vertically via a pipe located in the attic space. Then, it travels with a 1/8 per foot slope to the main sewer line outside the building, discharging a total horizontal distance of 30 feet. The pumping unit is conveniently located in the small storage closet, a central location that serves all fixtures efficiently.
The plumbing team replaced the original 1.5-inch discharge pipe for the previous pump with a two-inch line to optimize the system’s performance. This upgrade ensures a smooth effluent flow and enhances the system’s functionality.
The installation process was quick and efficient, taking just one hour, reports Farmer. While removing the previous pump, the positioning of the former discharge line aligned perfectly with the new Vortex unit, saving labor and maximizing system performance.
Since the installation, the system has operated flawlessly, without blockages or operational hiccups caused by flushing inappropriate items. This outstanding performance is a testament to the quality of Farmer’s planning and workmanship.
Next time you have the “opportunity” to bust through a concrete floor to run piping or bury an ejector pump, we hope you’ll take a few minutes to recall the red flags associated and the much more convenient alternative. Why keep doing things the old-school way when there’s an easier and less expensive alternative that will leave your customer happier and your bank account fuller?
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