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People do not think about the sewage removal system for their home. Why would you, it is a icky subject. As long as it works, you do not want to spend much time thinking about it.
You do need to give some occasional thought to the different components of your sewage system to make sure that they are working in the best possible condition. Failures in your homes sewage system will turn into very nasty problems. You will need the services of a professional plumber to fix the problem. If you live in the middle Tennessee area you can always give us a call at 615-864-9459 and a H20 plumbing specialist can come out and help you with any of your sewer line needs. And if you call the plumber early to fix the problems when the are small or replace older components early on, you can keep the sewer system working the way it should.
Now we will discuss the Grinder Pump.
What is a Grinder Pump ?
A grinder pump is a pump that is located at the low spot in your house or in your yard. The pump grinds up the wastewater just like a garbage disposal does and then pumps it up to the nearest city sewer line. The wastewater will flow through the main drain line into a holding tank. When the wastewater reaches a certain level, the float switch activates the pump to grind the waste and then creates the pressure to push the wastewater uphill to the sewer line.
When You Will Need a Grinder Pump
Most homes may not need one or have one. A grinder pump is only necessary to aid homes that are located lower than the nearest city sewer line. Most homes are built higher than the sewer line so that gravity will draw wastewater from the sewage system. Not all homes are like this, and for the homes that are, it is necessary to have a grinder pump. If it is not there, the wastewater will back up and contaminate the house.
Grinder pumps may also be required for some commercial businesses, regardless of where they are located to the sewer line. This is because these commercial businesses, like restaurants, produce a large amount of wastewater every day. That solid waste must be ground down before entering the sewer line.
Failing Grinder Pump
Yes, the grinder pump can fail. One circumstance is that it is electrically powered, so in case of a power outage, it will stop working. The motor in the grinder pump may also burn out. Early warning signs that this has happened include multiple clogged drains and toilets in the house and foul odors coming from drains or from out side around the pump. These could also be from other sewer line issues, but no matter what, they need to have a professional plumber look into them right away. The pump should have a electrical box mounted on a out side wall of the building or house. The electrical box is where the main power is wired to the pump. There will be a breaker to protect if there is over amperage issues. The box will also have a big red light attached to the top of it and this will start flashing if there is any issues with the grinder pump not working properly. In Most cases the municipal sewer company actually owns the grinder pump and all you need to do is call them and they will come fix it them selves. There are some guide lines to what you can not flush down the drain with a grinder pump. Tampons, birth control products, heavy tissues like baby wipes. These items will clog the pump and ruin the grinder. It is very important that these items are not flushed down the drain line and instead need to be exposed of in the trash.
Installing a Grinder Pump
Your home or business may require a new grinder pump, and this is a job that must be left to a professional plumber. In the case of a business, proper grinder pump installation is necessary to remain up to code. Our plumbers at H20 Plumbing & Water Heaters handle both residential and commercial grinder pump installation, as well as repair services.
H2O Plumbing & Water Heaters 