Sewage Pumps Archives - PumpProducts.com
  • 3 Signs You Need a New Sewage Pump

    October 11, 2018

    Below is a list of a few things you never want to see break down: The 87’ Volvo you’ve owned since college breaking down during a long road trip. Your 87 year old grandma breaking it down during the bridge of a popular hip-hop song. (Most costly of all) Your sewage pump breaking down after your extended family comes over for a 4 course Thanksgiving dinner. Sewage Pumps are used to transport waste and solids up to 2 inches in diameter to a public sewer or septic tank. Though sewage pumps typically have a service life that can last 10 or even 30 years depending on circumstances and variables, they are not immune to certain malfunctions without regular maintenance. Below are a few signs and indications that you may need to call your local plumber or look for a replacement sewage pump. Smells Perhaps the most obvious (and arguably worst) sign your sewage pump needs replacing would be the-why-does-my-basement-smell-like-my toilet-bowl fragrance suddenly emanating from your basement. This could be an indication that your pump is not emptying the pit or basin after it turns on. Smells could also mean you have a pipe leak in your system. If you or your local plumber can’t find a pipe leak, this could mean your sewage pump is faulty and may need replacing. Continuously Running If the pump is running constantly this could be an issue with your float switch. Float switches basically tell your pump when to turn on and when to turn off. When the water within the pit or basin reaches a certain height, it moves the float switch which in turn activates the pump. If the float switch is tethered, make sure the switch can properly hang straight down and is not encumbered or stuck. Constantly running can lead to a pump burning itself out or significantly shortening its service life. Fluid not being pumped If your pump is running but the basin is not emptying of wastewater, it could mean that your pump is clogged or not drawing enough power to create the suction necessary to pump. This could also be a symptom of your pump being overheated and shutting off from thermal overload. Be sure to monitor your pump and to minimize any toilet flushing to ensure that no wastewater floods over your basin or pit. Please note, that if there are a few inches of water in the bottom of the pit at any given time, this is normal and nothing to worry over. Remember that taking care of your sewage pump will mean your sewage pump taking care of you. Pump repairs can be costly and it may be more cost effective just to purchase a replacement. Fret not because if you’re reading this, you’re in the right place. PumpProducts.com carries a wide variety of sewage pumps from the most reliable brands in the industry like Goulds, Zoeller, and Myers among others. We also offer some of the lowest prices on the web. Call our application engineers and they can help size you out the right pump for your application. This means next Thanksgiving you can eat comfortably, knowing your reliable sewage pump is doing the dirty work so you don’t have to. Pump Products application engineers are standing by to help you find the right pump, as well as to provide price quotes, stocking availability and shipping information. Call our toll free number 1-800-429-0800 to speak to an expert today.

    VIEW
  • How To Get the Most Out Of Your Sewage Pump and Extend Its Service Life

    April 12, 2018

    Pumps are often overlooked.  This makes me think of the time I was in the 8th grade.  I played a piece of singing celery in the annual school play. It was an integral role and really brought the whole play to a new level, but unfortunately I got little credit for my Hanks-esque performance. Similarly, pumps are the unsung heroes who work behind the scenes to make sure your plumbing systems are running efficiently. Since pumps serve a variety of applications, they come in many shapes and sizes. Sewage pumps in particular are there to do the dirty work. These pumps sit in a basin and are necessary when wastewater can’t be moved by gravity alone. They move small solids and wastewater to a sewer system or septic tank. Every time you flush your toilet you activate the bat signal, letting your sewage pump know, there is work to be done. Knowing how to extend the life of your sewage pump can not only save you time and money but prevent many future headaches as well. General life expediencies for sewage pumps can run from about 5-7 years for residential and 5-15 years for commercial applications. Below you’ll find several tips to ensure you get the most out of your sewage pump and how to extend its service life. 1. Toilet paper only Flushing anything other than what’s supposed to go down the golden throne may harm your pump. Any materials such as feminine products, disposable wipes, paper towels, and many other products should be disposed of in a place well...that isn’t your toilet! These materials can potentially clog your system and create the need for a future appointment with your local plumber. 2. Use a check valve to prevent back flow The purpose of a check valve is to make sure fluid flows in one direction only and this prevent back flow.  Back flow is exactly what it sounds like, it is fluids that flow in the opposite direction of where it is supposed to go. Back flow can result in wastewater coming up through your sinks, shower drains, and toilets. A pump without a check valve can also suffer from short cycling. This means your pump will constantly be turning on and off which can lead to the pump burning itself out. So making sure your check valve is operating correctly can be super beneficial. 3. Set your floats at the appropriate level Float switches activate a pump when the level of waste water inside the basin reaches a certain height. Setting your float switch at the right level ensures your pump turns on when it is supposed to. Unfortunately, switches rarely last as long as pumps do, but luckily you can find a wide variety of float switches at PumpProducts.com. 4. Have an alarm for early detection An alarm can help prevent emergencies by providing a helpful warning against high water levels or pump failure. If you hear your alarm beeping, that means the pump needs to be dealt with right away. PumpProducts.com stocks the most reliable and easy to install alarms in the industry, from the most trusted distributors. 5. Know your application (TDH, GPM demands) Perhaps the most important thing is knowing your application and the demands of your system.  This can go a long way in selecting the right pump. If you can determine the factors such as the TDH (total dynamic head) and GPM (gallons per minute) that you will need, that’s half the battle. If you need assistance finding that information, call a PumpProducts.com application engineer.  This will ensure you will receive the right pump for your application and you can then rest easy knowing your plumbing system is in good hands. 6. Finally, make sure your basin is properly sealed Because no one wants to smell that! PumpProducts.com sales specialists are standing by to help you find the right pump or part, as well as to provide price quotes, stocking availability and shipping information. Call our toll free number 1-800-429-0800 to speak to an expert today.

    VIEW
  • Scuba Dive & Learn How a Sewage Pump System Works With Inspector Pumphead

    April 9, 2018

    As the old adage from the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu says, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Or to paraphrase, a single flush of the toilet! Get ready to witness a journey into the sewage system, guided by Inspector Pumphead.   Many people don’t want to picture what happens after they flush the toilet, which is perfectly understandable. It’s gross! But the expulsion of wastewater is one of the most important functions that underpins indoor plumbing systems. Understanding how a sewage pumping system works, can give you a greater appreciation of how water moves in and out of your house. This knowledge can also help you make better purchasing decisions in the future. With Inspector Pumphead, you have the perfect figure to guide you through the darkness. In this adventure, the brave Inspector will take you through a sewage system. Goulds sewage pumps are some of the finest on the market and the Inspector has a lot of experience with that brand. Don’t worry we've left out the gross parts. Check out the video:                                                                            Not every home needs a sewage pump First, you should understand when you would need a sewage pump. If you are connected to city sewer (as opposed to a septic tank system), your water flows to either a storm sewer or a sanitary sewer. As the names suggest, the storm sewer is where rainwater runoff is exported, while the sanitary sewer takes care of your wastewater. If a home or building is at grade (ground level), then the wastewater travels by gravity to the sanitary sewer. If the city sewer line is located above your home sewer line or you have a basement toilet, you need to install a sewage pump. The sewage works to push or “eject” the sewage up towards the city line (you will sometimes see sewage pumps referred to as sewage ejectors). Journey down through the sewage system In the first part of the video, Inspector Pumphead flushes himself down the toilet. Using the mixture of science and mysticism he learned while studying at Carnegie Mellon, he is able to shrink himself and scuba through the pipes. The piping is one of the most important parts of your system. Sewage pipes in modern homes typically use PVC plastic, which is tough, corrosion-resistant and relatively simple to install. Older homes often use cast iron sewage piping, which is rugged but susceptible to rusting over time. Just something to keep in mind when thinking about your sewage needs. The pipes eventually deposit the sewage, and Pumphead, into the sewage tank or basin. The basin is important because it contains the sewage pump and acts as the depository for the sewage.  The water also has the effect of keeping the pump motor cool. How does a sewage pump export your wastewater Once the wastewater is in the basin, it gets sucked up through the inlet at the bottom of the sewage pump. In the video, the homeowner has chosen a Goulds sewage pump. Powered by the pump’s impeller, the water. along with Inspector Pumphead, moves through the pump and out of the discharge outlet through more piping, which eventually leads to the city sewer line. Depending on where the basin is located, you might need extra piping, elbows, etc. to connect to the city sewer line. Where does sewage wastewater go Have you ever wondered what happens to your wastewater after it leaves your house Wastewater moves to a water treatment plant where it is aerated, filtered and disinfected to remove waste particles and other microorganisms. In a very thorough and complicated process, wastewater becomes clean “reclaimed water.” The reclaimed water is free to be reintroduced to the ecosystem, often used as groundwater, irrigation water or as a cooling agent. If you find the idea of your wastewater going back into the environment gross, just know that most states have regulations against using reclaimed water in potable systems (washing, drinking, swimming) where humans will have contact with the water. Still, reclaimed water is generally safe to touch. Lucky for us, Inspector Pumphead is able to use his extensive knowledge to escape the system before the water reaches the treatment plant. That’s how dedicated Inspector Pumphead is to helping you understand more about pumps and water systems - he’ll risk getting sent through a filtration system for you! Do you have any ideas for future adventures you’d like to see starring Inspector Pumphead Let us know in the comments and we can see if he is up to the challenge! PumpProducts.com sales specialists are standing by to help you find the right pump or part, as well as to provide price quotes, stocking availability and shipping information. Call our toll free number 1-800-429-0800 to speak to an expert today.

    VIEW
  • Pump Products Gives You the Best Zoeller Sewage Pumps

    February 23, 2017

    Pump Products is proud to have greatly expanded its in-house stock of Zoeller sewage pumps. The company now has at least one of every Zoeller sewage pump series on site in the warehouse, ready to be shipped out to customers. What this means for customers: if you need a Zoeller sewage pump, chances are it can be shipped directly. Zoeller Pumps is a longtime industry leader and the care and attention it gives to the manufacturing process is well-known. Zoeller-manufactured products are known for excellent construction, consistent performance, and durability over the lifespan of the pump. Zoeller sewage pumps in particular have a well-earned reputation for excellent performance and they are consistently some of Pump Products' most requested and best-selling pumps. The biggest increase comes in the form of the light, residential "Waste-Mate" series sewage pumps. 260, 280, and 290 series pumps received the biggest boost. These compact, lightweight pumps can easily be expedited for overnight delivery. 400 series and 600 series pumps are now also well-represented in the inventory. These bigger pumps can be shipped by truck freight. Pump Products is now fully equipped to deliver a wide variety of Zoeller sewage pump series to customers anywhere in the United States. Call 1-800-429-0800 today for more information.

    VIEW
  • How to Size a Sewage Basin

    September 16, 2016

    The sewage basin collects and contains wastewater before it is removed from a building's system by way of a submersible sewage pump. It is a critical part of any wastewater (sewage, effluent, sump) system. Commonly constructed with fiberglass or high grade plastic, basins are heavy duty containers. They come in a variety of system types (simplex or duplex), sizes and applications. Some basins operate with multiple types of pumps while others are designed expressly to be paired with a specific pump. Basins sit below grade while the pump itself sits at the bottom of the basin. How it functions is simple: wastewater enters the basin through an inlet pipe or port. The wastewater accumulates in the basin until it reaches a certain level, at which point your sewage pump will activate (by way of a float switch or preset control) and pump the wastewater through a discharge pipe out of the building to a municipal sewer or septic tank. A correctly sized basin is important to ensuring that the wastewater system and the pump itself runs smoothly and efficiently. For instance, a basin that is too small could fill up rapidly and contribute to improper pump cycling. If the pump turns on and off repeatedly, it will quickly burn out. Longer downtime between pump cycles keeps the pump cooler and results in longer life. In this blog we will walk you through the process of sizing a basin to fit your needs and application by working through a specific example. (more…)

    VIEW
  • How a Mechanical Seal Prevents Pump Leakage

    August 31, 2016

    The mechanical seal is one of the most important components of a pumping system. As the name suggests, the seal is a simple component that forms a barrier between the motor and the volute of a pump, protecting the motor against leakage. Leakage is death to any mechanical instruments and pumps are no exception. Fluid leakage often results in corrosion of the casings, sleeves and bearings. Corrosion left unattended over a period of time will will degrade the construction material of the pump. Fluid leakage that enters the motor shaft can short circuit the motor. Naturally, these problems will impede proper pump functioning and eventually could stop the pump from running altogether. Companies often spend a lot in terms of money, wasted manpower and lost operational time to fix leakage.The mechanical seal is designed to prevent that leakage from ever happening. Mechanical seal shaft failure is the number one cause of pump downtime according to WaterWorld magazine. (more…)

    VIEW
  • Pump Products Installs New Sewage Pumps to Relieve Lady Liberty

    July 21, 2016

    One of the country’s proudest landmarks received a critical upgrade thanks to New Jersey-based businesses Pump Express and Public Sewer Service. Pump Express and Public Sewer Service, affiliate businesses of Pump Products, refurbished the entire sewage system for Liberty Island, longtime home of the Statue of Liberty. The renewal project was part of the continued efforts to restore the proud historical site after the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. When the storm touched down in October 2012, many coastal communities in the Northeast suffered heavy losses and Liberty Island was no exception. Sandy devastated the supporting infrastructure that kept the island functional as a tourist attraction. The Statue itself remained relatively unscathed thanks to a design that allows the structure to sway with the wind. Although Liberty Island reopened as a tourist attraction in 2013, the scars of the damage remain and recovery has been a steady process. According to the National Park Service website, the storm rendered the docks and pathways unusable. “Electric, water, sewer, HVAC systems, phone systems, security systems, and radio equipment,” were completely destroyed. At the peak of the flooding, water covered over 75% of Liberty Island. (more…)

    VIEW
  • How to Identify the Parts of a Sewage Pump

    July 19, 2016

    Most people never consider the components of a pump until one breaks. If you are not getting water or your basement is flooded, you might know that something is wrong with the pump - but you have no idea what you're looking at. In this blog, we will break down the parts of a submersible sewage pump to give you a better understanding of how a pump is constructed how the parts fit together to move fluid.  Why should you be able to identify pump repair parts As with any other piece of mechanical equipment, familiarity with the components can help you understand proper functioning, assist you in diagnosing potential problems and enable you to repair the pump yourself, should you be so inclined. Plus, a little extra knowledge never hurt anybody. Pump Components A pump is composed of two main parts: the volute and the motor. A volute is the curved casing that receives the fluid. The fluid’s rate of flow decreases while the flow pressure increases. (more…)

    VIEW
  • How To Size a Sewage Pump System

    July 12, 2016

    Sewage stinks. It’s not a very pleasant thing to think about and most people probably would prefer their sewage to be out of sight and out of mind. Few things are as big a headache for a property owner or municipality manager as backed up sewage water. Whether the building in question is a home or business, the smell of sewage can produce a dreadful environment. Removing wastewater and sizing a new pump for your sewage pump system is an involved process. If you are experiencing a problem such as the sewage water backing up or simply not draining quickly enough, it is important to determine the origin of the problem and think about possible solutions. If a pump stopped working because of age or natural wear, it is easy enough to replace the old model with a new one. But you should take the opportunity to examine the holistic health of your sewage system. Similarly, if you are building a new house or you just refurbished your basement and want to add a bathroom, it is imperative to consider all the aspects of wastewater removal in your system. If the system is a new project, you may need to dig a new sewage pit to have a basin installed. Examining the whole of a system can help you update your infrastructure to comply with new codes, identify potential problem points before they occur or simply make your fluid transportation more efficient, saving time and money in the long run. This blog post will walk you through the process of sizing a sewage pump for a system. First, it is essential to understand the basics of municipal sewage systems and whether or not you actually need a sewage pump. (more…)

    VIEW
  • Why You May Need a Goulds Sewage Pump

    November 13, 2015

    Sewage is a nasty affair, in every sense of the word. To make matters less cumbersome, pumps are involved to do most of the dirty work. PumpProducts.com carries a large inventory of pumps and repair parts, including Goulds Sewage Pumps, specializing in leading pumps for all of your sewage needs. We are a national pump distributor, known for our adherence to supplying you with leading products by trusted manufacturers. Our professional service people are dedicated to this principle, and we strive to outfit your needs with parts that live up to their trusted reputation. Our selection of sewage pumps just this; provide you with a reliable sewage pump that will fulfill your water solutions. (more…)

    VIEW