Sump Pit Pump: Tips for Choosing + Review of Top Brands

Submersible fecal pump: principle of operation

When designing an effective private sewer system, it is important not only to make calculations on the optimal location of a well or well, toilet and pit, but also to correctly select a fecal pump. To date, the submersible unit is considered the best for forced sewage

Submersible fecal pump device

Unlike surface and semi-submersible, the design of submersible wastewater pumping equipment involves installation below the water level - at the bottom of a storage tank, septic tank or cesspool.The principle of operation of this equipment is almost the same as that of drainage equipment, but it is based on a different design, since it is designed for pumping wastewater with large diameter solid inclusions.

Since the submersible pump for pumping out sewage is constantly in contact with an aggressive environment, its main working parts and housing are usually cast iron or made of stainless steel. The device operates in full autonomous mode due to the presence of automation, as well as a float switch.

Pedrollo BCm 15/50

Main characteristics:

• Maximum pressure - 16 m;
• Throughput - 48 cubic meters. m/hour;
• Power consumption - 1100 W.

Frame. The body and main parts are made of cast iron and stainless steel, which allows the pump to be operated in a chemically aggressive environment with abrasive inclusions.

Engine. A single-phase electric motor with built-in thermal protection consumes 1100 W, which is enough to pump out a viscous mixture in the amount of 48 m3/hour. This flow corresponds to a discharge nozzle diameter of 2½’. To exclude the option of working in dry mode, the pump is equipped with a float switch that opens the power circuit when the liquid level drops to a critical level.

Water pump. The double impeller of the pump creates a sufficiently large pressure equal to 15 meters and successfully replaces the chopper. The removable cover allows you to quickly get to the pump for revision or cleaning in case of clogging.

Device Pedrollo BCm 15/50.

1. Pump housing.2. Pump base.3. Impeller.4. Engine housing.

5. Engine cover.6. Motor shaft.7. Double mechanical shaft seal with intermediate oil chamber.

8. Bearings.9. Capacitor.10. Electric motor.11.Power cable.12. External float switch.

Application. The design of this model is designed for immersion in water up to a depth of 5 meters, so the length of the power cable is 10 meters. The pump is designed for pumping fecal matter and other liquids with a temperature not exceeding 40°C. The diameter of solid particles must not exceed 50 mm. With a width of 250 mm and a height of 450 mm, it fits easily into a standard size inspection hatch.

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Pros of Pedrollo BCm 15/50

1. Quality materials.
2. Reliable shaft seal.
3. High performance and high pressure.
4. Low noise level.
5. Protection against dry running and engine overheating.

Cons of Pedrollo BCm 15/50

1. Heavy.
2. Expensive.

Rating and prices

The rating of fecal equipment is headed by the German company Grundfos. Its products are in demand, despite the high prices. Consumers prefer to give money for reliable technologies and durable materials, so that in the process of work they are not distracted by repairs.

Although in terms of repair, the company is also doing well:

• spare parts are constantly available;
• there are service centers that repair pumping equipment;
• in the case of buying a marriage, which is almost unrealistic, the company will change the product.

Lower prices and quite acceptable performance characteristics are offered by domestic manufacturers, namely the firm Dzhileks. The company works with reliable materials and branded equipment, so the products are of good quality. In the event of a breakdown of pumping equipment, you can always repair or replace the product.

Here are some of the most popular models:

• Grundfos (SEG series).The pump for fecal masses of the German manufacturer is considered the most reliable. This is evidenced by customer reviews and warranty. Made of rust-resistant materials - cast iron and steel. Diving depth - 10 meters. Power reaches 2200 watts. The price of equipment starts from 73,000 rubles. These are the most powerful models from the household series.
• Gileks (fekalnik series). A household fecal pump of a domestic manufacturer is a universal device for a private house. With it, you can clean the septic tank, pump clean water from the well, pump out dirty water after prolonged rains, water the garden. Works from a depth of 10 meters. The price starts from 6000 rubles.
• Sprut (V1300D series). The maximum particle size that the device can miss is 1 cm. It works from a depth of 5 meters. You can buy for 9000 rubles. The Sprut fecal pump with a chopper for the toilet is made in China, but is of good quality, as evidenced by consumer reviews.
• Herz (WRS series). The model can be used for domestic and commercial purposes. The body is made of stainless steel. The power of the device is enough to pump liquid over a long distance. The cutting mechanism easily grinds fabric fibers, ropes, clothes that have fallen into drains, fecal masses. Maintains a high level of performance throughout the entire period of operation. The cost of equipment starts from 17,000 rubles.

Types of fecal pumps for septic tanks

There are three types of specialized hydraulic pumps for pumping sewage from cesspools. They differ in the way of installation, performance and design. Pumping equipment for sewage can be:

1. Submersible.
2. Superficial.
3. Semi-submersible.

Each type of device has its own advantages, installation features and price. A wide range of models allows you to choose a pump for a cesspool, which will be optimal in terms of the combination of all parameters.

They are installed outside the cesspool, only the suction hose is lowered to the bottom of the pit. Household models are lightweight, easy to operate, but they will not cope with heavily silted and viscous liquid. More overall and powerful modifications can be seen on sewage trucks.

The external fecal pump has a fairly large size

The advantages of surface pumping equipment include:

• cheapness;
• ease of maintenance;
• mobility;
• long service life.

The engine of the surface pump is in the air during operation, due to which it cools and does not overheat. Plus, the body of the unit does not come into contact with drains and does not rust.

Among the disadvantages of household sewer surface-type hydraulic pumps, it should be noted:

• low power and low suction height;
• lack of reliable protection against moisture (it is recommended to use them only on clear days or equip awnings for them);
• impossibility of application at negative air temperatures.
• noise at work.

With proper operation, the surface model will serve faithfully for more than one season.

The body of the submersible fecal pump is made of steel or cast iron resistant to the aggressive environment of the cesspool. The equipment is immersed to the bottom of the sewage tank.

There are many submersible models, you can choose a device of any power

A submersible fecal pump is chosen for a cesspool because of its high performance - up to 400 cubic meters per hour. It is almost always equipped with a chopper and a float. The cutting mechanism grinds all large inclusions to sizes that are safe for the device, and the float turns off the unit as soon as the water level becomes critically low.

Submersible pump device

Such pumping equipment can also be used for watering the garden, removing runoff from the drainage well, during flooding to pump water from the basement.

A semi-submersible fecal pump is installed so that the engine remains above the water, and the working chamber is immersed in drains. They are connected to each other by a rotating shaft. The equipment is quite bulky. It must be installed under the roof, since the electric motor is not protected from moisture.

Wiring diagram for submersible and semi-submersible pumps

Typically, such devices are mounted stationary. They are more suitable for large facilities where wastewater is pumped out on an ongoing basis several times a week. For a cesspool of a private house, choosing this option is impractical and expensive.

How to choose?

Before you buy this or that tool, you should pay attention to such factors:

• The temperature in the septic tank - if we are talking about the hot season, then organic products are also suitable. When frosts are noted on the soil surface, it is best to use chemical agents, since certain microclimatic conditions will be required to activate bacteria.
• Closed or open type of pit - for open ones, you can use biological aerobic means that are as safe as possible.With closed forms of cesspools, it is better to give preference to chemicals that will do their job to the maximum.
• The presence or absence of plastic containers in the cesspool - if the pit consists only of earth, then it is best to use organic matter. So when chemicals get into the soil, there is a risk of infection with salts that are toxic to humans and all living things.
• Further use of recycled waste - if intended use as a fertilizer for the garden and vegetable garden is planned, then only organic forms of cleaners are used. When using chemicals, a precipitate and a large amount of liquid are formed, which forces one to be puzzled by the search for means of mechanical pumping.
• Independent pumping out of the formed liquid - if the farm has a fecal pump, and it makes sense to pump out the processed masses independently, preference is given to organic matter. Chemicals can damage not only the pump itself, but also the pipes through which sewage is organized.

Expert opinion
Kulikov Vladimir Sergeevich

Also pay attention to the cost. High-quality drugs cannot be cheap and give instant results, while being absolutely safe for life and health.

Recommendations for self-installation

Fecal mobile pumps are installed in a container with a working medium in accordance with the operating instructions, while it is useful to adhere to the following recommendations:

• The pump must be installed so that the waste pumped out from the bottom does not clog its inlet pipe; if there is a large layer of dirt there, the unit is placed on a solid and even base.
• When installing a fecal, it is necessary to ensure the free movement of the float in the pit, choosing its location with the greatest distance from the walls of the tank.
• To transport fluid from submersible pumps, it is better to use a rigid polymer pipeline - its smooth walls have the least hydraulic resistance compared to other materials - this increases the unit's productivity and prevents clogging of the passage channel with waste.
• To prevent wastewater from flowing back into the source when the electric pump is turned off, a check valve is installed in the system if it is not provided for in the design of the unit.

Rice. 15 Basic ways to install a submersible fecal

Fecal pumps are widely used in households for organizing forced sewerage as part of home compact installations, and for outdoor use when filling drainage wells, pumping waste from cesspools. Units are supplied to the pumping equipment market by European manufacturers from Italy, Germany, Denmark, they are competed with products of Russian brands manufactured at Chinese and domestic production facilities.

Submersible sewage pumps

As the name implies, such pumps should be completely lowered into the pit. So that an aggressive environment (and an aggressive environment in sewage pits, believe me) does not affect the operation of the pump, all components are made of a special material that is not subject to destruction by aggressive liquids

Often, submersible fecal pumps are equipped with a grinder, and this is a very useful feature, since sewage pits often contain foreign matter such as paper, cellophane, food waste and other debris, which, due to our negligence, ends up in the sewer pit. The grinder crushes any solid object to a fraction that will not damage the pump mechanism

Some models do not have a chopper, so you need to carefully examine the pump when buying.

Another useful accessory that will not only extend the life of the pump, but also save energy is the float. The float automatically turns off the engine when the liquid level is very low, this avoids idling of the device. You can adjust the pump with a chain or rope at a certain level of the sewage pit, and when the drains are filled above the level, the float will start the pump, so you can build an impromptu automatic sewer.

Semi-submersible fecal pumps

As the name implies, the semi-submersible fecal pump is not completely in the aggressive environment of the sewage pit - only its suction part is immersed. The pump motor remains outside. Due to the fact that the engine does not come into direct contact with feces, manufacturers save a little on engine materials. Instead of chemically resistant materials, lighter and cheaper ones are chosen. The engine should not be heavy - after all, it should float on the surface. Very often, such pumps are mounted permanently, at facilities where there is often a need for wastewater pumping. In private households, such a pump is not always convenient - firstly, it makes a very loud noise, because the engine is running on the surface.Secondly, the very preparation for pumping out takes time - it is necessary to install a transverse beam or bar on which the cable or chain from the pump is wound. The cable must be in constant tension, the pump must not fall on its side, but be in a strictly vertical position. Thus, a semi-submersible pump must be constantly monitored, while submersible and surface pumps do not need such careful visual observation.

Surface fecal pumps

This type of pump can be installed in close proximity to a sewage pit, or in a special room where it will not be affected by any external factors in the face of the weather. Since this pump is not immersed in cleaning pits, the body materials are made of ordinary plastic. Only internal parts and hoses are exposed to the aggressive environment of treatment pits, but timely maintenance, cleaning and flushing of the insides of the pump will increase its service life several times. Since surface pumps are quite compact and mobile, their performance leaves much to be desired. These models do not have choppers, so such a pump can only cope with liquid media, where foreign inclusions do not exceed 2-4 centimeters in size. Another common problem is clogged suction hoses, so the hoses need to be flushed every 2-3 months.

The main advantages of surface fecal pumps are:

• Small dimensions of the equipment;
• Relative cheapness compared to other types of pumps;
• Ease of maintenance and repair;
• Long service life with proper maintenance;

Types of pumps for pressure sewage

Forced sewage devices are different from water-lifting ones.The latter are suitable for clean water. With the penetration of feces and large particles, the device breaks.

Fecal sewer pumps are used to pump out:

• silt from various pits;
• dirty water from basements;
• liquids from sewer networks;
• sludge from a well.

The drainage system does not pump out wastewater.

Submersible devices

This type of equipment is lowered completely into the sewer. The design consists of stainless parts that will not break when interacting with drains. The submersible device is installed in the container or suspended above it. The pump works automatically. When the space is filled with sewage, the float rises and the pumping of polluted waters is turned on.

When the container is empty, the device turns off. Models are equipped with grinders. This mechanism crushes large particles that can harm the equipment.

Most often, equipment equipped with a grinder is used as a submersible pump.

surface models

The devices are mounted near the collector, where the waste liquid accumulates and is redirected, or a manhole. Mounting is called dry. A hose is connected to the pump, lowered into a container and drains are pumped out.

When installing a submersible pump, it must be protected from moisture. If water gets under the housing, a short circuit will occur. The device is suitable for basement and heated utility rooms. If the equipment is to be used intermittently, it is recommended to select a submersible device.

Semi-submersible installations

The model has an electric motor mounted above the water and a working chamber immersed in liquid. A shaft rotates between these elements.The semi-submersible device is mounted on the tank wall or a platform near the tank.

The device does not have a grinding mechanism. It is installed additionally, which increases the cost of equipment and complicates operation. Such installations are most often used in industrial production.

Small units for drains from plumbing

Plumbing pumps do not take up much space and can fit under most toilet models.

A small device that is installed near plumbing, suitable for toilets and sinks. The liquid enters the tank and is then pumped out into the system. The device resembles a pump and is installed in different areas.

He will be able to pump out effluent from the tank into the sewer even with the outlet directed upwards. Toilet pumps have a cutting part that crushes large particles. To avoid unpleasant odors in the apartment, a filter is installed in the design.

This is interesting: Do-it-yourself repair of the submersible borehole pump "Vodomet": we describe in detail

Criterias of choice

To answer the question of how to choose a fecal pump, you can study the following characteristics of the equipment:

Power, performance. That is, the speed at which he can pump out effluents.
The body and main components must be made of durable materials, not succumb to corrosion, not react with chemicals.
Protection

It is important that the motor is protected from overheating, and in submersible types, all structural elements are from drains.
Availability of service in your or nearest (accessible) settlement.

It is also worth paying attention to reviews, they sometimes say much more than technical specifications.

Comparison of pumping equipment for hot and cold drains

If you plan to use a country shower without heating, then you can put a simple pressure or vacuum unit, while a model that is resistant to high temperatures is suitable for pumping hot drains. Equipment for pumping cold liquid waste has a temperature limit of up to 400 C.

Universal sewer pump

Some models equipped with knives are universal - they grind inclusions of a large fraction and can pump both cold and hot drains, but such equipment is expensive. Usually the unit is installed behind the toilet, with which it is connected by an adapter.

Advice! You can save a lot by installing separate installation for each plumbing unit: for a bathtub / shower stall and a washing machine, install a vacuum or other unit that can withstand high temperatures, and for a toilet bowl - a toilet pump for cold drains with a chopper.

How to calculate the required lift height

When choosing a fecal pump for sewage, you need to pay attention to two characteristics: its power (performance) and lift height. With performance, everything is more or less clear - it depends on the volumes that need to be pumped

The height of the lift will have to be considered, because in addition to the vertical component, with which everything is clear (this is the depth of the well / septic tank from which the drains must be raised), there is also a horizontal component - these drains must be transferred somewhere, usually into some kind of container.The distance to which the drains must be transferred in the horizontal plane is divided by 10. The result is added to the height of the rise from the well.

An example of the technical characteristics of a fecal pump for pumping sewage

For example, the depth of the well is 4 meters, it is necessary to transfer drains to 35 meters. In total we get: 4 m + 35 m / 10 = 7.5 m. In the technical characteristics of the pump, the lifting height should be at least this figure, and preferably 20-25% more so that the equipment does not work at its limit, which leads to premature wear . Now you know how to calculate a fecal sewer pump.

Decide on the type of pump

By area of ​​use, pumps are divided into those used in private homes, as well as those used in apartments or even communes. There are special options used in production conditions.

The design of the fecal pump for the apartment

Mainly, they differ from each other in power. Household stations, which are appropriate in apartments without sewerage, operate at 600 W, they are also divided into:

1. Embedded;
2. Overhead.

The pump for a private house or cottage has a high performance. In addition, it copes not only with liquids, but also with solid particles of stool. Divided by installation method:

1. Submersible. It is installed directly in the cesspool;
2. semi-submersible;
3. Surface.

Submersible is used for deep cesspools. It is mounted at the very bottom of the tank, so it is rational to use it for closed tanks. Known for high power - the performance of most submersible models is in the range from 30 to 50 kW.

Submersible pump type

Semi-submersible is considered a modification of the submersible.In contrast, this model has a special float. This part provides automatic operation of the pump when the permissible norm of sewage masses is exceeded.

Installation option for a semi-submersible fecal pump model

It consists of an engine and a processing mechanism. The engine is located on the surface of the cesspool, and the pump is lowered into the water. Such devices have a small suction pipe diameter, therefore they are only suitable for domestic use. This model can only deal with small solid particles of wastewater - their size should not exceed 1.5 centimeters.

Surface is the simplest and lightest fecal pump. It consists of a motor, a processing device and a suction pipe. The free end of this outlet is placed in a cesspool, after which the process of overflowing wastewater begins. But this design has a significant drawback - the diameter of the suction hose is so small that it passes masses whose size is not more than 5 mm. It is this model that is most often used in summer cottages or in the field (for example, when installing and cleaning a simple dry closet). In addition, the obligatory presence of a reservoir into which wastewater will be poured is required. Its power rarely exceeds 10 kW.

According to environmental conditions, pumps are divided into hot and cold.

1. Hot ones are used in private permanent residences. They are able to function normally at ambient temperatures above 90 degrees. Equipped not only with fecal grinders, but also with temperature sensors;
2. Cold models are used at temperatures up to 90 degrees. Their components are thermally sensitive, so if the temperature rises, failure may occur.