Sewage Grinder Pump VS. Sewage Pump: Difference You Should Know

What’s a Grinder Pump?

Grinder pumps are a particular kind of sewage pump, which explains why the terms are occasionally used synonymously. Between 35 and 70 gallons per minute, but over much greater distances, up to several thousand feet, are handled by residential sewage grinder pumps, which are less efficient.

Grinder pumps pulverize or grind solids in addition to having an impeller. The slurry can then more easily pass through lines with smaller diameters than solid waste could, so the discharge line and pump connection is usually 2″ or less, and some use 1.25″.

More powerful grinder pumps start at 1 horsepower. They occasionally cost more money and occasionally use more electricity than standard sewage pumps. They can, however, last for years if maintained properly, just like regular sewage pumps.

What’s a Sewage Pump?

Unlike effluent or sump pumps, which should be used only to remove clear or gray water, sewage pumps are designed to move “dirty” or sewage waste to a septic tank, gravity flow sewer main, or leach field. Some pumps, also known as sewage ejectors, have the capacity to transport waste up to 200 gallons per minute over a distance of 750 feet.

The head pressure needed to move the waste vertically is produced by an impeller in a sewage pump. Vortex, semi-open, and enclosed channels are the three main types of impellers. Different head pressures are associated with different impeller types and their dimensions. To avoid clogging and moving the liquid effectively, a typical sewage pump will have an impeller in the shape of a vortex.

The horsepower (hp) of sewage and sump pumps is typically less than that of grinder pumps. Typically, a residential home only requires a sewage ejector pump with a 1/2 hp. And because what goes in the septic pump must fit through the pipes “as is,” sewage pumps have larger diameters for discharge line and pump connection: between 1.5″ to 3″.

Grinder Pump Characteristics

One of the issues with grinder pumps is that they are frequently mistaken for sewage pumps. The harder solids can be cut into smaller pieces by the cutting mechanism in grinder pumps, resulting in a slurry that can flow through pipes more easily.

Compared to typical sewage pumps, the slurry can be pumped to a higher elevation because it is relatively fine. Because of this, grinder pumps typically cost more and require more power. They are therefore more frequently employed in institutional and commercial applications. It’s important to only flush things down the toilet that should have been flushed in the first place, even though they can handle harder solids. Multiple restroom facilities or homes can frequently be connected to a single grinder pump, spreading the cost of the pump’s overall purchase across the group and lowering the cost for each individual connection. This depends on the configuration of the particular pump.

Semi-positive displacement, or SPC, and centrifugal pumps are the two different types of grinder pumps. Many have a storage tank and an alarm system so that if the waste level increases past a certain point due to the grinder pump failing, a warning or alarm will sound and action can be taken to remedy the situation. Either sensors or floats are used to measure the effluent level, though grease buildup in float-based systems can make the pumps run more frequently than necessary.

You will be more aware of what to look for in your particular circumstance if you are aware of the fundamental distinctions between grinder pumps and sewage pumps. Team EJP’s skilled professionals are available to assist you in locating the best solution for your wastewater needs. To learn more about how we can keep your moving water moving smoothly or to ask any questions, feel free to contact us right away.

Sewage Pump Characteristics

Sewage pumps can handle some solids, but only to a limited degree. If a home is situated in a low area and sewage needs to be pumped uphill into the sewer or septic system, this type of pump is frequently used with basement toilets to pump the sewage up into the sewer lines for the home or utility with the solids still intact.

There are some, but not all, sewage pumps that are grinder pumps. Sewage pumps have a subtype known as grinder pumps. In general, sewage pumps that aren’t grinder pumps can move sewage solids up to two inches in diameter that are simple to dissolve or break down. Clogs and significant pump wear and tear will result from harder material. A regular sewage pump, as opposed to a grinder pump, is typically less expensive and uses less power. This also implies that the pump cannot raise sewage to the same level as a grinder pump.