Sewer pumps: types, how to choose the right one + operating features

Overview of pumps

Note that fecal, drainage, sewer pumps (stations) are different devices. Fecal and drainage - sludge devices, in the first a cutting element is installed, capable of grinding large-caliber solid inclusions. Sewer stations - a plumbing fixture installed inside the house, for example, in a toilet; are used for sewage disposal.

Fecal devices are adapted for pumping viscous liquids from cesspools and septic tanks, clean sources of silt.

Their features:

• Almost no noise
• do not vibrate
• Do not overheat
• Long continuous work

What to look for when buying a drainage pump

For stable and high-quality operation of the pump, when buying it, it is important to consider the following points:

properties of the pumped liquid.

Before buying a pump, it is important to decide what exactly it will pump out. It can be clean, little, moderately polluted or dirty water, waste and sewer water, fecal matter.

The characteristics of the pump indicate what size impurities it can pass

In addition, attention should be paid to the temperature and pH of the pumped water.

depth of immersion (or suction).

This parameter shows the maximum depth to which the pump (or hose on surface models) can be lowered. If you do not take this indicator into account and lower it deeper, then it may simply not cope with the task.

case material.

The body can be made of plastic, stainless steel and cast iron. The plastic case is more prone to mechanical damage, but such models are cheaper. The steel and cast iron body is strong and durable, but these models will cost more.

the presence of circuit breakers.

Circuit breakers are necessary to protect against dry running of the motor, as well as from its overheating. Most pumps are equipped with an automatic float switch that turns off the unit when the water level drops, and turns it on when it rises, thereby protecting it from dry running. In addition, more powerful devices are equipped with protection against overheating of the electric motor in the form of a thermal relay.

pump performance (capacity).

It depends on this indicator how quickly it can drain a reservoir (basement, pool), or how many water intake points (faucet in the kitchen, in the bathroom, watering) can provide an acceptable pressure.

pushing ability.

It should not be confused with maximum pressure. The maximum head is the height of the water column to which the pump can deliver water. Those. the water will rise to the maximum height, but the pressure will be zero. Thus, the pressure capacity of the pump and, in general, its performance is affected by the diameter and length of the hose, the height of the water rise, and the voltage in the mains. For example, with a hose diameter of 25 mm, the performance is almost two times lower than with a diameter of 32 mm.

If all of the above factors are not taken into account, then the minimum performance of a serviceable pump can be obtained at the output, which is not a reason for claims against the manufacturer.

Consider which drainage pumps, according to users, can be called the best.

Types of sewer pumps: which one to choose for a cesspool

Fecal pumping equipment in its design is divided into three options:

• submersible pump types are lowered completely into the water;
• for semi-submersible devices, only the working part is in the liquid, the engine remains outside due to special fasteners;
• outdoor units are installed on a solid surface, only a hose is lowered into the water.

Below is a table with a brief description of the types of fecal pumps.

Pump type	Description
Submersible	● It has a completely waterproof housing that covers both the motor and the working mechanism, and is made of a corrosion-resistant material, such as stainless steel or cast iron; ● equipped with a float that gives a signal to turn off when the liquid level drops below the critical level; ● can be installed on the bottom in a horizontal or vertical position, depending on the model; ● household units raise liquid to a height of up to 14 m, and pump up to 400 liters of water per minute; ● the temperature of the drains must not exceed + 40°C, otherwise the engine will quickly overheat; ● have large channel diameters; ● the size of inclusions in drains can reach 8 cm; ● most models are equipped with a chopper, and some with a cable or skid for easy placement on the bottom of the tank; ● Suitable for both mobile and stationary use.
semi-submersible	● only the working chamber descends into the water column, the engine is located higher and does not have protection as in the submersible type; ● design features impede the possibility of installing a cutting mechanism; ● have a small diameter channels; ● Can pump liquids with impurities up to 1.5 cm.
Outdoor or surface	● due to the lack of a sealed housing, it is necessary to create a canopy to protect against atmospheric moisture, as well as to insulate when used in sub-zero temperatures; ● maximum liquid lifting height – 8 m; ● the most budget among all fecal pumps; ● can be equipped with a grinding device; ● size of inclusions should not exceed 0.5 cm; ● does not differ in high power; ● air type of cooling system allows the unit to be used with liquids of different temperatures.

When choosing a pump model for servicing a sewage tank, you need to pay attention to several parameters.The presence of a grinder, large diameter channels make the submersible type of fecal pump the most common option for servicing cesspools

In parallel, it is even used for watering the garden.

The presence of a chopper, large diameter channels make the submersible type of fecal pump the most common option for servicing cesspools. In parallel, it is even used for watering the garden.

Types of pumps for sewage

First of all, you have to decide which sewer pump of their huge variety of types is suitable specifically for your country house. To do this, consider each of the options in more detail.

Let's start with the fact that all modern pumps intended for pumping wastewater are conventionally divided into two large groups. And the choice of a device from one group or another is determined by how heavily contaminated the waste is.

• Drainage pumps for sewerage. With their help, water is pumped out of filled basements, pools, cellars and settling tanks. In other words, a pump is needed where there is very dirty water (from dishwashers / washing machines, for example), which does not contain solid particles.

Fecal sewer pumps. Their use is advisable not only for very dirty water, but also for fecal masses and wastewater with solid particles (the latter vary in size between 4.2-8 centimeters). The flow channels in this case are larger. It is also worth noting that these pumps can be equipped with an additional device that grinds large household waste. They easily cope with solid impurities, as they are equipped with an impeller, where the cutting edge or a round knife is located.

What are the features of a fecal pump

Many people wonder if conventional sewage pumps can be installed. Many experts will immediately say that only fecal pumps are capable of pumping liquids with a high concentration of impurities and solid deposits.

Features of the fecal pump are that even large impurities and solid deposits will not cause rapid wear of the structure. Do not assume that the filter element at the inlet of the drainage or other pump will solve the problem - in this case, the filter will clog extremely quickly, which will cause an increase in load and also increase the degree of wear of the structure.

Weaknesses, main breakdowns and how to prevent them

internal surfaces and parts must have additional protection

The installation of a sololift should be carried out in a secluded but accessible place.
The blades of the chopper impeller should be pointed - this will help to avoid clogging.
To increase reliability, additional shredders can be installed in front of the impeller.
When buying, you should pay attention to the product labeling: sololifts designed for cold drains should absolutely not be used in hot water supply.

Perhaps the main disadvantage of this type of sewage system is considered to be an electrician. Voltage fluctuations in the network or interruptions in the supply of electricity can lead to a decrease in power, the performance of the entire system, or its automatic shutdown. Engine failure is not ruled out for this reason.To protect yourself from such excesses, it is recommended to install a voltage stabilizer in the house.

In cases where there is a general forced drain installation in the house, it is recommended not to overload several drain points at the same time during moments of unstable voltage.

For the most part, forced-type fecal pumps have an unlimited service life, and with careful use, they can last more than one decade.

Use of sewer pumps

In any country house, the arrangement of an effective sewage system involves the installation of a pump. Such equipment, designed for small volumes, will be appropriate in an apartment. This is especially true when various household appliances, including a washing machine, are located on the basement floor. In this situation, it is precisely a well-chosen pump that will help to perform timely drainage or pumping out of wastewater. Also, the unit will be required for other needs:

• elimination of the consequences caused by difficulties in the placement of plumbing and the organization of self-disposal of wastewater;
• removal of fluid at a considerable distance from housing;
• prevention of stagnation of biomass in sewer pipes.

Domestic sewer pumps

How to distinguish a fecal pump

A domestic sewage pump should be used in such cases:

• in case of difficulties with the optimal placement of various plumbing fixtures and the organization of gravity drainage of domestic wastewater;
• if necessary, divert wastewater to a considerable distance from the residential building and prevent stagnation of biomass in pipes.

If in the house some appliances (for example, a washing machine) are installed in the basement, i.e.much lower than the laid sewer pipes, then a pump will be required for the timely removal of wastewater. Devices that discharge wastewater from the bathroom, toilet, kitchen - submersible sewage pumps - practically do not differ from drainage pumps. The difference lies in the allowable particle size. In the case of domestic pumps, the size of the particles passing through can be greater than 50 mm.

Sewage pumps have found numerous applications

The lower part of such a pump (from the side of the suction pipe) has a slightly larger diameter than that of the drainage counterparts. There is a cutting mechanism used to crush large solids that enter the pump from the drain.

Such a sewage pump with a grinder has cutting blades made of cast iron or stainless steel, which are not afraid of the aggressive environment of fecal sewage.

Pro tip: Pay attention to the diameter of the pump outlet to avoid clogging the pipeline. The optimal value is 40–80 mm.

Self-locating pumps

Homemade pump well

To install a sewer pump in the country, you should take a few fairly simple steps:

1. Dig a not very deep well in the basement of the house.
2. Concrete its bottom and walls.
3. Lead pipes draining household waste into the well.
4. Connect the drain pipe to the pump.
5. Using the guides included in the kit, lower the pump to the bottom of the well.

Pro tip: In a small house where a family of three lives, it will be sufficient to equip a well with a diameter of about 0.7 m and a depth of 1 m.

Ready-made devices with a camera

Sometimes it is not possible to insulate the well well. In this case, it is worth purchasing and installing a ready-made system for pumping out domestic wastewater, which is a plastic container and a pump inside it:

• The system is buried in the ground to a certain depth.
• Sewer pipes are connected to it.
• The discharge pipe is connected directly to the pump.

KNS is a plastic container equipped with a pump

Such sewer pumping stations (SPS) have a number of advantages compared to open well equipment:

• high tightness;
• the presence of a special gas filter that eliminates unpleasant odors and accumulated gases;
• different volume of storage tank: 40–550 l.

Also, companies such as Pedrollo, Grundfos, Easytec and others produce serial products equipped with pumps and sealed round or rectangular plastic containers of small size (sololift). Systems incorporating Grundfos sewer pumps are used with success in cases where gravity drainage is not possible. They consist of:

• plastic case;
• pipes entering and exiting the unit;
• ventilation pipe;
• carbon filter to eliminate odor;
• powerful cutting unit capable of shredding household waste, paper, etc.

Sololift pumps - a compact solution for crushing and removing wastewater

Thanks to its discreet appearance, such a sewer pump in an apartment will be completely invisible. It can be installed in the bathroom or bathroom without fear of "spoiling" the interior.

Domestic developments of similar systems are represented by the powerful Irtysh unit, manufactured in Novosibirsk, and the Drainazhnik plastic system.

Classification of fecal pumps by type of construction

Continuous and uninterrupted operation of the sewer system in a private house is possible only with a properly selected and high-quality pump. From a constructive point of view, all models are divided into several more categories, let's get acquainted with their properties and characteristic features.

1. Category No1. Pumps without chopper, designed for cold drains. They are characterized by a fairly low cost, designed for basements flooded with water in the spring, as well as pools. Tellingly, the wastewater temperature should not exceed +40 degrees.
2. Category No2. Units without chopper, designed for hot drains. Ideal for pumping out wastewater that does not contain solid particles (for example, in saunas or baths), the maximum allowable temperature is +90 degrees.
3. Category No3. Chopper pumps designed for cold drains. They are the most popular because they effectively pump out waste products by grinding toilet paper, hair, etc. into small particles. But the temperature of the drains should not be more than +40 degrees.
4. Category No4. Chopper pumps designed for hot drains. They are very similar to previous devices, but differ in that they can pump out hotter wastewater (maximum - +90 degrees). As a rule, they are installed in baths with a toilet.

The purpose of the hydraulic pump for sewage

In most cases, the sewer system in a country house is designed in such a way that the waste liquid moves through it by gravity.But sometimes the local septic tank is located higher than the sewage pipeline and all plumbing fixtures in the building.

Since sewage is not able to move up the pipes on its own, a sewer pump must be used. To choose the right pumping equipment, you should familiarize yourself with its modifications and characteristics, as well as take into account many factors.

All sewer pumps are divided into 4 main groups:

1. Units used for pumping liquid resulting from the implementation of household needs.
2. Powerful pump designs for production needs.
3. Sewerage pumps designed to transport atmospheric precipitation.
4. Pumps for moving formed sediments.

Also, the need for sewer pumps for a private house arises in the case of completion or redevelopment of the building. The fact is that then the configuration of engineering communications passing inside the house changes, and the volume of waste fluid increases, which can no longer leave the residential building by gravity.

The most common way to equip a sewer system, which provides for the forced pumping of wastewater, is to install an intermediate storage building in the basement of the building. As the tank fills up to a certain level, a sewage pump is turned on in the basement - it pumps out the drains outside the house for subsequent cleaning or removal.

It is also possible to install a compact pumping unit that will function exclusively during the draining of the waste liquid.But this option has a big drawback - in the event of a breakdown of the unit, the house will be left without a working sewer system.

The use of pumps for pressure sewage compared to the operation of a gravity-flow design has the following advantages:

1. The need for periodic cleaning of pipelines is reduced, since the intensive movement of wastewater through them contributes to the self-cleaning of pipes.
2. Plumbing fixtures and household appliances that need to be connected to a network for draining drains can be installed anywhere, regardless of the need to form a slope in the direction of the outlet, storage tank or septic tank.

Gravity systems for domestic purposes are mounted from pipes having a similar cross section. When fecal sewage is discharged separately, the diameter of the pipeline is taken such that it will be filled to 0.7 of its maximum height. This gap is necessary to ensure ventilation and removal of unpleasantly smelling and explosive gases.

When choosing a pump for home sewage, you need to take into account the parameters of the pipeline so that it matches the expected load. All forced sewer structures, in comparison with gravity ones, are volatile.

If a small number of residents live in the house, then the storage tank is not filled immediately and the pumping equipment will turn on from time to time. But if the volume of waste liquid is large, the unit must work almost constantly, and when the power supply is turned off, quite serious problems can arise.

In order to reduce the cost of purchasing a pump for a sewage system, it is possible to install thinner and cheaper pipes and thereby reduce the cost of their installation. But then, during operation, the equipment will need constant maintenance, which also requires money.

And if you add to them the cost of an uninterruptible power supply, which must be installed in case of an emergency power outage, the benefit will be zero.

Purpose and features of the fecal pump

A sewer pump is needed for a cesspool or for a septic tank: it is periodically switched on when it is necessary to pump out sewage to empty or clean the collection of household waste. It can be completely immersed in the pumped liquid or installed in close proximity to the toilet pit. The design and parameters of such units are specially calculated for the possibility of pumping inhomogeneous mixtures.

Sometimes inexperienced users do not see the difference between household fecal pumps designed for sewage in a private house and drainage pumps used for pumping dirty water. Their device is largely similar. For both types of equipment, to protect against mechanical damage, grids are provided on the intake pipes and large gaps between the rotating impeller and the housing, which prevents clogging and jamming of parts.

Sometimes, in case of urgent need, you can try to replace an aggregate of one type with another, but it is better to use them strictly for their intended purpose. Distinctive features of fecal pumps are:

• the possibility of pumping liquids with solids up to 35-50 mm in size, when for drainage devices this parameter is usually 5-12 mm;
• the use of more powerful electric motors, which is associated with an increased viscosity characteristic of wastewater;
• equipment with a receiving device with a mechanical type chopper in the form of rotating knives.

Advice! If you need to pump out a cesspool, a fecal pump will do the best job.

Principle of operation and device

The installation of a sanitary pump for forced sewage makes it possible to arrange bathrooms in any convenient place, including basements, which are an order of magnitude lower than the general drain.

provides forced discharge of drain masses, including fecal

At the same time, the installation of this device does not affect the aesthetics of the room at all, since it is quite compact and does not catch the eye at all.

Sanitary equipment of forced type is designed for grinding and pumping out fecal matter. The principle of its operation is similar to a drainage device, but, unlike it, a sanitary sololift is designed for drains of a larger caliber.

This small compact device allows you to pump out sewage in a horizontal direction up to 100 m, and in height - up to 7 meters.

Externally, the fecal pump is a small plastic tank equipped with a grinding mechanism and fasteners. Depending on the model and its purpose, the device can be attached to the sink, toilet bowl, bathtub, washing machine or dishwasher, shower cabin.

For the correct choice of model, you need to have the following data:

• sewer pipe diameter;
• the length of the distance to be overcome by the drain masses;
• performance (volume of liquid pumped in 1 hour).

Liquid waste entering the tank of the device is crushed by the rotating blades of the mechanism. The engine starts automatically as soon as the float rises with the water level up to the switch. With the help of a centrifugal mechanism, the liquid is pumped into a centralized sewer drain.

Compulsory sanitary equipment is divided into three groups:

submersible;
semi-submersible;
outer.

Which is better - submersible or surface?

With the same outlet pressure, a submersible sewage pump consumes less power than its external self-priming counterpart. The first one simply does not have to spend energy on suction of effluents through the outlet from the bottom of the tank to the working chamber. All the power of the electric motor is spent on creating pressure in the pressure line.

A pump completely immersed in drains makes an order of magnitude less noise than a pump installed on the surface. Water absorbs most of the sounds made by the electric motor and rotating pump parts.

Surface equipment is noisier than equipment submerged in a sewer tank, which is cooled by the fluid around it.

For ease of use, the palm can be given to the surface model, but only if it is compact and portable. Plus, the correctness of its operation can be controlled simply by the noise emitted. If the motor does not work correctly, extraneous sounds appear, immediately indicating problems.

Other things being equal, the parameters and additional equipment, a surface pumping station will almost always cost less than a submersible sewage pump.Of course, much depends on the manufacturer and competition in a particular region.

However, the technique immersed in sewage is, by definition, more technologically advanced and more complex, which causes its higher price.

Brief overview of manufacturers

When choosing a fecal pump, it is better to give preference to models from well-known manufacturers. They specialize in such equipment, so their equipment is always on top. And in case of breakdowns, parts for repairing such pumps are always much easier to find.

Among the variety of brands for use in the country are suitable:

1. Pedrollo Vortex - VXm series with low power (Italy).
2. Dzhileks - a series of "Fekalnik" (Russia).
3. SFA - compact grinder pumps for the home (France).
4. Grundfos (Denmark).
5. Marina-Speroni (Italy).
6. Calpeda (Italy).
7. Whirlwind (Russia).
8. Belamos (Russia).

It is worth saying that Russian pumps are in no way inferior to imported counterparts. They were originally developed for domestic realities with voltage drops, etc.

Classification and types

There is no single classification of forced sewage installations, but they can be divided according to several parameters:

• The presence of a grinder. It is needed if the sewer pump is connected to the toilet.
• Performance. This is the volume of wastewater that can be pumped out per unit of time. There are installations with a small capacity and with a very solid one. The choice depends on the number and type of connected devices.
• The temperature of the pumped medium is from 40°С to 90°С.Everything is clear here - drains from the dishwasher and washing machine, bathtubs require sewer pumping stations capable of pumping wastewater with high temperatures.
• Duration of work. There are installations that can only be switched on for a short time (they are installed on one or two devices), and there are more “long-playing” ones (they can be used to drain the whole house). This is usually indicated in the characteristics as the duration of the work. The percentage can be 50%. This means that the unit works for 30 seconds, “rests” for 30 seconds. The run/cool down interval can be specified in seconds or minutes.

  Sewage shower pump - under-sump installation

When choosing a pump for forced sewage, it is worth remembering that they are not designed to connect a bath. The bathrooms contain too much water, pumping out which the pump will overheat and block. As a result, it will take a long time to drain the water from the bathroom. There are only a few models of forced sewage that can handle this task - SFA Saniplus Silence and Sololift C3. These sewer pumps do an excellent job with a large amount of warm water discharged.

Other companies offer to make an intermediate pit for forced pumping out of the bathroom, into which to drain the water. From it, pump it into the sewer with any suitable device. Given that the pit must be below the level of the drain, this method is not always acceptable. And, despite the high cost of SFA Saniplus Silence and Sololift C3, it is more profitable to install it than to carry out a huge amount of excavation.

To prevent overfilling of the tank, there is an additional alarm device.In some companies, it simply beeps when the tank is full, in others it also turns off the device connected through it (washing machine or dishwasher).

Device and principle of operation

The sewer pump is a plastic tank that looks something like a toilet bowl. The body has threaded holes for connecting pipes from devices. An engine, shredders, an automatic device for starting the motor are built into the body.

To prevent unpleasant odors, the sewage pump housing is sealed, and inside there is a carbon filter and an air check valve.

The pump completely blocks the ingress of sewer odors into the apartment

The pump for sewage in the apartment works as follows:

• water from a sink or other household appliances enters the pump reservoir;
• when filling the tank, an automatic device (switch with a float) activates the engine and chopper knives (if any);
• the engine drives water with crushed residues through the filter and pumps it under pressure into the sewer;
• after emptying the tank, the pump is ready to pump water again.

Installation instructions

The fecal submersible pump is often installed mobile, that is, only for the time of pumping. This installation has several advantages:

• it is easy to implement;
• allows you to quickly and easily pull out the pump, if you need to clean the grinder, clogged during the pumping process;
• with this option, the equipment is easily washed and stored in a clean state;
• the pump can, if necessary, be used for other needs, for example, watering the garden, cleaning the pond.

For temporary installation you will need:

• a mobile container where waste will be pumped out, for example, a eurocube;
• clamp or metal wire for fixing the hose;
• container with clean water for washing;

• the pump itself

• a cable or chain to lower the equipment to the bottom of the cesspool and raise it at the end of work;
• extension cord for connecting to the mains;
• a tool in case you need to disassemble the pump and clean the chopper blade and nozzles;

• hose or fire hose of the correct length if not included or lost.

Do not forget also about personal protective equipment, as there is dirty work ahead.

Biological preparations for cesspools

Prices for biological products for cesspools

Biological preparations for cesspools

Now you can proceed to the installation of the device.

Step 1 Attach a cable or chain to the pump handle. Some models are equipped with skids for safe lowering to the bottom.

Step 2. Connect the outlet of the unit to the fire hose.

The fire hose is fixed to the pump nozzle with clamps and wire

Step 3. The fire hose (hose) is unwound and the free end is lowered into a mobile container where sewage will be collected. Sometimes the reset is performed remotely on the terrain, but it is better not to resort to this option.

Step 4. Carefully lower the equipment to the bottom, holding the cable.

Submersible Pump

Step 5 After the pump has reached the base of the cesspool, connect it to the mains.

Step 6. Start pumping out sewage.

Pumping is carried out in a plastic eurocube

After the cesspool is empty, the pump is pulled out, placed in a tank of clean water and turned on again for flushing. The jet can be directed for irrigation.

Pump flush

Advantages and disadvantages

small diameter drain pipes (18-40 mm)

The reliability of the sololift is due to the principle of its operation: the drain masses are carried out under the influence of high pressure, while in conventional systems the contents of the pipes are “left to chance”. Therefore, there were no cases of clogging of forced sewerage.

Installation work of the device does not require special skills or effort, and the use of narrow plastic sewer pipes is quite economical and easy to install. All elements of the forced drain have a modern design, and if desired, it will not be difficult to hide them in the wall and decorate with a cornice, plinth or tile.

A sanitary pump is an indispensable thing in a country house, in private houses, in separate buildings (shops, bars, cafes, etc.). The use of a forced drain system is not only convenient to use, but also economically beneficial.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Information about the operation of different fecal pumps, presented in the video clips, will help you make the right choice.

You can see how the grinder of a submersible pumping unit works in this video:

And this is a video on how to pump out a drain pit using a submersible device:

As you can see, the choice of such necessary equipment for a country house as a fecal pump is not such an easy task. The variety of species and subspecies can confuse anyone. After reviewing each of them and finding out its features, you can choose the right model for domestic use.

In the process of choosing the right fecal pump model, do you have additional questions? Ask them below under our article - our experts and owners of such equipment will try to clarify the situation.

Or maybe you use a fecal pump in the country and want to share your experience with beginners? Write your opinion about the device, tell us about the pros and cons of your model.