Pumps & Sewage Ejectors
When gravity can not do the job we rely on pumps for delivery and removal of water and waste water. There are a variety of pumps with different purposes getting the same job done:
Grinder Pumps
 Grinder pumps are also known as sewage ejectors. Any waste water that is below the main sewer line and can not flow on gravity at a given drop per foot must be pumped up until it can flow on gravity. Sewage ejection systems are notorious for failing due to prohibited products such as: paper towels, tissues, Q-tips, condoms, grease, dental floss, and anything else that should not be put into the drain. Substandard equipment installation and faulty design can be cause for ongoing problems as well. These known culprits are more likely to be the cause of a burned out motor than the age of the unit. Float and electric failure are another common cause for pump system failure. If you have a commercial double detection system or an alarm on your residential system you will likely be able to respond and resolve issues before flooding occurs. Another scenario that can cause a system to go down is a main line back up. It is important to identify all plumbing that goes into the pump system. One helpful hint: any plumbing fixture that can flow on gravity must be piped as such; per code. If the system is unable to pump, all of these plumbing fixtures must be stopped and a service professional should be called immediately.
Grinder pumps for all applications should be visibly inspected every year or, as often as is required to correct a problem and prevent failure. Our service team specializes in pump system troubleshooting, maintenance, retrofit/ design of small and big systems efficiently, using only top quality products.
Sump Pumps
 Sump pumps are used to remove non waste water from a low point. They are usually much smaller than sewage ejectors. They are also used as emergency backup drains to protect from water damage and flooding. It is important to periodically check to verify the pump and float works. If you still have concerns about damage and want more protection you may consider installing a battery backup pump along side it.
Recirculation Pumps
Recirculation pumps are used to ensure timely delivery of hot water to the furthest point of hot water usage from the source, for solar hot water systems to move the hot water between a storage tank, and a boiler in a domestic hot water heating system. All of these pumps have oil ports that need to be oiled annually to avoid premature failure. If you do a water shutdown for any reason and do not turn the power for the pump off, it will burn out and need to be replaced. There are different pump designs for vertical and horizontal installations. All piping on a recirculation system should be insulated for energy conservation. It is important to address water head and friction loss calculations before installing or changing a recirculation pump.
Booster Pumps
 Booster pumps are used when low water pressure exists. It will not offer any help for sizing issues or old galvanized piping. In most cases booster pumps are installed at pump stations for taller buildings to maintain adequate pressure on the higher floors.
Working on pumps is a specialty service that requires the right service professionals. O'Grady Plumbing has trained qualified employees available to you 7 days a week for prompt service and maintenance on your pump system.
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