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If you have a private house and an individual sewerage system, you can either call special services periodically to maintain a septic tank or AC, or service the devices yourself. The prices for the service are such that, despite the very unpleasant procedure, people do it themselves. For such work, you need a fecal sewer pump. This is a special device that can pump very dirty water.
Drainage and fecal – what’s the difference
There are two types of pumps for pumping contaminated water: drainage and fecal. How are they different? Drainage are designed to drain polluted waters containing small solid inclusions – silt, sand and other substances of approximately the same size. To prevent larger particles from getting inside, meshes are installed. As you understand from the description, drainage pumps are suitable for pumping clarified water from a storage well located after a septic tank, for pumping water from a storage well for drainage and storm sewers.
If you need to pump out sludge from an automatic individual cleaning plant (such as Topas or others), or sediment from the bottom of a septic tank, the drainer will not cope with this. Too dense environment. For a septic tank, there is, in principle, a way out, stir up the sediment, pump out the suspension, pour water again, shake it up again and pump it out again. It is possible to do this, but the septic tank will then enter the operating mode for a very long time, so this method can be used only in extreme cases. It is better to purchase special equipment that will cope with the compressed sediment.
Sewer pumps are used to clean cesspools and septic tanks. They can handle heavily contaminated liquids, viscous media that may contain solid particles. The particle size depends on the model, but the maximum value is 50 mm. Not always in the cesspool, all waste rots to such a state. To be able to cope with the situation, a chopper is installed at the bottom of the pump. It is usually placed on centrifugal models – additional cutting blades are installed on the shaft. Effluent already crushed enters the working body of the pump.
So if you plan to use a fecal pump to pump out a cesspool, it is desirable that a grinder be present in the model. It grinds larger particles to acceptable sizes.
Types of fecal pumps
Sewage pumps operate in an aggressive, chemically active environment. In addition to the fact that their body must be airtight, the materials from which it is made must be chemically neutral and resistant to aggressive environments. There are very few such materials:
- stainless steel;
- some types of plastic;
- cast iron.
The best material is stainless steel, but the same material is the most expensive. The most budget option is a plastic case. These models are the cheapest. In the middle price category, fecal pumps for pumping sewage with a cast iron body. Despite the fact that you have to use this device infrequently, you should not choose cheap models. Is that for a summer residence, where you come only from time to time.
By type of installation, pumps for pumping feces are:
- Submersible. They are installed at the bottom of the tank, usually operate in automatic mode. Switching on/off is done with a float switch. The float rises/falls with the liquid level, when it is at the bottom, the pump is off.
- Semi-submersible. These pumps are elongated, their suction part is quite far from the motor. The motor remains on the surface, it floats on a special platform, the suction part is in the thickness.
- Surface. Only the hose connected to the inlet is lowered into the tank, the device itself is located next to the tank. A surface sewerage fecal pump usually has a plastic housing and a small capacity. This is basically a country option.
Now we need to figure out all this diversity – when and what devices are better to use.
Features of operation and installation
When choosing a fecal pump for sewage, it is necessary first of all to be based on the operating conditions of the equipment. If you are looking for equipment for seasonal living, there is no need to spend money on expensive and powerful submersible models. For these purposes, small and mobile surface installations will be optimal. They are good because you can take them with you for the winter – they weigh 5-12 kg, depending on the power. If equipment is selected for a private house of permanent residence, it makes sense to purchase more expensive equipment that can be mounted permanently.
Submersible sewage pump
This equipment can be installed permanently or mobile. With a stationary installation, a platform is made at the bottom to which the body is attached. Pipes (usually plastic) are connected to the outlet pipe. The option is not bad, but if there is a need for repair or maintenance, it is not clear how to get the installation.
The pipe leading from the pump can be brought up to the surface of the earth, or it can be led into the wall and laid, say, a pipeline underground to the storage tank. This is an option for those who cannot reach a septic tank / cesspool. In this case, it is necessary to call a special machine with a long hose. But a couple of such calls are equal to the cost of a mid-range mud pump. Therefore, in such cases, a storage tank is often built / installed in accessible places, residues are pumped into it using a fecal pump, and then a regular car is called.
The second, mobile option, is better in this regard. Two rods are mounted along one of the walls of the tank. Diameter – slightly smaller than the diameter of the holes in the body. A chain is attached to the upper part of the submersible sewage pump, and a corrugated pipe is connected to the outlet pipe. Next, the body is put on the installed rods, and, like on rails, the device is lowered to the bottom. With this method of installation, if necessary, the pump is pulled out by the chain. There is only one minus – the need to use corrugated pipes. Their structure leads to the fact that the pipes are often clogged, respectively, they must be changed, since it is very unpleasant to clean them.
The use of a corrugated hose can be avoided in models with a lower suction nozzle. In this case, a rigid (plastic) pipe is mounted, leading it out so that the pump descending along the guides sits on it (in the photo on the right).
And the easiest installation option: just lower the device to the bottom on the chain. When the effluents are pumped to the desired level, the equipment is turned off and removed from the tank, washed, dried and carried away to the utility room until the next use.
| Name | Power | lift height/head | Performance | Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grundfos SEG 40.12.2.1.502 | 1200 W | 20,5 m | 18 m3 / h | Cable length 10 m, shredder | $1025 |
| Ebara Right 75 M/A | 500 W | 8,6 m | 14 m3 / h | Permissible diameter of solids 35 mm | $250 |
| Speroni SEM 150-VS | 1700 W | 11 m | 24 m3 / h | Float switch, grinder | $560 |
| Homa Barracuda GRP 16 B D | 900 W | 20 m | 18,7 m3 / h | Flowing | $1160 |
| Ebara DWM 150 A | 1600 W | 16 m | 42 m3 / h | Permissible solids diameter 50 mm, float switch | $620 |
| Speroni CUTTY 150/N | 1500 W | 17 m | 21 m3 / h | Flowing | $770 |
| Irtysh PFS 50/125.120 | 1100 W | 6 m | 16 m3 / h | Float switch | |
| Irtysh PFS 50/125. 98 | 1100 W | 4 m | 7 m3 / h | Float switch | |
| Irtysh PF2 50/140.138 | 3000 W | 22 m | 25 m3 / h | Float switch | |
| Jilex Fekalnik 150/7Н 5302 | 550 W | 7 m | 9 m3 / h | Permissible solids diameter 35 mm, float switch | $105 |
| Dzhileks Fekalnik 200/10 F 5301 | 880 W | 10 m | 12 m3 / h | Permissible solids diameter 35 mm, float switch | $70 |
| Jilex Fekalnik 255/11 H 5303 | 1100 W | 11 m | 15 m3 / h | Permissible solids diameter 35 mm, float switch | $125 |
Despite the rather complicated installation, it is submersible fecal pumps that are most popular. This is due to the fact that they are usually more powerful, and they can also pump media with particles up to 50 mm in size. And it is the submersible models that can be with a grinder.
Advantages of submersible pumps:
- They can lift fluid from great depths.
- It can work in automatic mode, with the help of a float controlling the liquid level.
- No need to worry about cooling.
- Low noise level.
It is submersible fecal pumps that can develop sufficient power to pump out the contents from great depths. In the case of sewers, this may not be so important – septic tanks are not so deep. But if necessary, it is possible to pump wastewater over a long distance over the surface. The main thing is that the hoses are enough.
You can read about sewer check valves and their installation here.
Semi-submersible fecal pumps
This type of equipment combines the advantages of surface and submersible pumps. Since the engine is above the surface of the water, it is not necessary to make it ideal for waterproofing. There is also no need to tightly arrange all the parts in the case. All this has a positive effect on the price – it is much lower than for submersible models.
The disadvantage of semi-submersible fecal pumps is the smaller particle size that it can suck up, the smaller depths at which it can work. The disadvantage is also that a chopper cannot be installed on this type of pump. However, not all cons are significant for domestic use. Too large depths for private use are not needed, and a simpler design makes repairs more affordable, so there are clearly more advantages.
A feature of the installation of semi-submersible pumps is that it is necessary to install it so that the motor is above the water. The installation method depends on the model, it is prescribed in the instructions for the product. In general, there are several installation methods:
- A platform is made on the wall of the tank, equipment is fixed on it. With this method of installation, it is necessary to ensure that the liquid level does not rise above the platform – the upper part of the body is not airtight. You can control the level with the help of automation – sensors that give a signal to turn on and off.
- Floating pad installation. This method of installation is found in small semi-submersible fecal or drainage pumps for domestic purposes.
- Very small models, which are also called “barrel” can be hung on board.
Despite all the advantages, this model is not used so often. Basically, a fecal sewage pump is acquired as a submersible or surface type.
| Name/manufacturer | Power | lift/pressure | Feed/capacity | Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FGP 20/10 (L=1,3 m) | 2,2 кВт | 10 m | 20 m3 / hour | Maximum particle size 15 mm | $400 |
| NCI-F100 | 0,5 кВт | 8 m | 100 m3 / hour | Centrifugal with chopper | $1525 |
| FGS50-12,5 | 4 кВт | 12,5 m | 50 m3 / hour | Maximum particle size 15 mm | $760 |
| FGS30-10 | 2,2 кВт | 10 m | 30 m3 / hour | Maximum particle size 15 mm | $515 |
surface models
The simplest installation is for surface-type fecal sewage pumps. The device itself is placed on the ground, and only hoses are lowered into the container.
The most serious drawback of such models is the phenomenon of cavitation, which occurs when pumping liquids from great depths. Cavitation is the saturation of the pumped medium with air bubbles. If such a mass enters the working body of the pump, it will fail. That is why it is not recommended to use surface fecal pumps at depths greater than those for which they are intended. In the case of pumping out a septic tank or storage well, the use of such models is justified. They have a shallow depth, and not even the most powerful motor will cope with the task. It is only necessary to choose the right power unit.
| Name | A type | Power | lift/pressure | Performance | Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caliber NBC-380 | self-priming | 380 W | 25 m | 28 l / min | No idle protection | 30-35 $ |
| Whirlwind PN-370 | self-priming | 370 W | 30 m | 45 l / min | No idle protection | 38-42 $ |
| Gilex Jumbo 60/35 N | self-priming | 600 W | 35 m | 60 l / min | No idle protection, maximum particle size 0,8 mm | $104 |
| Gileks Jumbo 70/50 P 3701 with ejector | self-priming | 1100 W | 50 m | No idle protection, maximum particle size 0,8 mm | $115 |
Please note that all models of surface pumps are designed for pumping water. Only some of them can pump viscous liquids, and this should be indicated in the description or passport. The disadvantage of this equipment is that it requires a homogeneous environment – the maximum particle size that they are able to pump is 0,8 m. The price is undoubtedly attractive, but among the submersible models there are very inexpensive ones – for example – Gileks and Ebara (Ebara). The latter also have a stainless steel body and a wide range of models with different pressure and performance.
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 in 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.
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, there must be a lifting height of 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.