E/One grinder pump stations come with alarm panels that will alert you if something goes wrong with the pump. Depending on when your E/One grinder pump was installed, the alarm panel could be a black box with a red light on top; a gray box with a red light on top; the custom-designed E/One Sentry enclosure, with the E/One logo on the front and red light on top; or even a small switch plate inside your home (usually in the kitchen or hallway) with a red light.
What does the alarm mean? Let's look at two different scenarios:
The alarm turns on for a few minutes, then turns off. We refer to this as a "nuisance alarm." If this happens, consider what was happening when the alarm turned on. Do you have a large spa tub or another appliance that uses a lot of water? Emptying a spa tub can send a large inrush of water into the grinder pump station. If the water level in the tank was close to the "on" level, then the large volume of water came from the tub, the pump may not have turned on quickly enough and the pump was overwhelmed temporarily. This type of alarm should turn off after 15 minutes or so.
The alarm turns on for a few minutes, then turns off, but it happens often. Repeated nuisance alarms may be more than a nuisance; they may indicate the early stages of your pump needing service. When the pump is working properly, you shouldn't notice much sound from the pump and not from the alarm panel. But if you're using a typical or reasonable amount water in the house and you get repeated alarms, you may want to call for service.
The alarm turns on and stays on. Service is required because the pump has stopped working. Never, never, never silence the alarm and leave it be. Don't turn off the breakers in hopes of clearing the alarm. Stop using water (or use as little as possible) and call for service. If you continue to use water, you will cause a backup into your home or yard.
Finding a Service Provider
E/One recommends contacting an authorized service center for repair. Using a non-E/One plumber or other pump repair may not be covered by the warranty.
First, start with your town or HOA. Some localities have their own service people or contracts with local repair businesses. If you're responsible for your own service, contact your local E/One distributor or call our Service Link at 1-866-539-9803 (in the US). Some of our distributors have their own service departments, or they can recommend a service provider.
More Information
Visit our web site for more information about grinder pump service. Download and print our Owners Guide for reference; there is space on the back to fill out your local service provider's contact information. If you'd like a copy mailed to you, contact us at eone@eone.com.
All about grinder pumps & pressure sewer systems
Showing posts with label e one pumps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label e one pumps. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Case Study: Town of Jerusalem, New York
The Town of Jerusalem is located
in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. The region's geography is
gashed by several gullies and deep ravines that run down to Keuka Lake; valleys
and rolling hills used primarily as farm land; and, steep slopes on the
waterfront.
It was precisely the natural
beauty and rocky terrain the region prizes that would make it laborious, environmentally disruptive and almost
certainly cost-prohibitive to excavate
for conventional gravity sewering.
Hundreds of vacation homes (seasonal occupancy is only approximately 20-percent full-time residents) are located very close to the lake, often on small building lots with very little room for septic leach fields. A high water table and ineffective subsurface drainage means the drain fields have poor percolation to begin with, so decline is rapid and inevitable.
The town had required homes to be scrutinized every five years. If an existing septic system flunked
inspection, corrections were required which often included the installation of
a new tank and drain field at a cost of $20,000 to $30,000 per residence. In many instances there was not enough room to put in an up-to-date
replacement.
Constructing a gravity sewer system, back in 1999, was estimated to cost $6 million, whereas an E/One pressure sewer system would cost $3.2 million. The proposed LPS for the Town of Jerusalem eliminated the need for 12 lift stations with a total cost savings of $900,000. Nor did it require a rock excavation outlay pegged at $775,000.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
E/One Named "Top Projects Award" Winner by Water & Wastes Digest
News Release:
###
NISKAYUNA, N.Y., Sept. 26, 2014 -- Environment One Corporation (E/One), a pioneer and world leader of low-pressure,
gravity-independent, contour-following sewage collection systems, has been
selected as one of the winners of Water & Wastes Digest's Top Projects Award Program. The presentation will be
made on Tuesday, September 30, in New Orleans on the occasion of the Water Environment Federation’s Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC®),
the largest event of its kind in North America.
In attempting to clear up an E. coli problem
in the area’s lakes by replacing deteriorating septic systems, E/One and its
client, the Twin Lakes Regional Sewer District in Monticello, IN, constructed
the single largest
grinder pump driven low-pressure sewer project in the Western Hemisphere.
"For this area, for this district, the best thing was
low-pressure sewer," says Mike Darter, general manager of the Twin Lakes
Regional Sewer District. "By far and away
LPS was the only way to sewer this area.
It provided a timely installation with minimal disturbance to the
property owners."
At present, the $65 million project counts
5,071 E/One grinder pumps which service approximately 8,000 residences and
businesses around Lake Shaffer and Lake Freeman. Nearly 300 miles of pressure sewer lines link
across more than 29 square miles and traverse the Tippecanoe River multiple
times. The expected flow from the entire system is 1,285,000 gallons per day
delivered to four separate wastewater treatment plants.
"It's quite an honor for E/One Sewer® systems, and for the grinder pump category which we pioneered
and which was not too long ago considered an 'alternate' technology. Today LPS has become the 'appropriate'
technology solution for a growing number of progressive communities
worldwide," says E/One President Eric LaCoppola.
E/One conceived the concept of the household grinder pump in
the late 1960’s. E/One Sewer systems
have since proven to be an economical and effective method of sewering
otherwise difficult land areas, such as flat, wet, rocky and hilly terrain.
At the heart of an E/One Sewer is the grinder pump,
developed by Environment One. These units accept household sanitary waste,
grind it into a fine slurry, and pressurize it to permit transport through
small-diameter pipes. E/One Sewer systems now serve over one million
end-users daily.
Other participants in the Twin Lakes project include E/One’s
local distributor Covalen; Gorman-Rupp; Reynolds, Inc. (now Layne Heavy Civil),
Orleans, IN; HRP Construction, South Bend, IN; Rothenberger Construction,
Concord, MI; Clyde E. Williams & Associates, LaGrange, IN; RheinBach
Engineers, South Bend, IN; and, GRW Engineers, Indianapolis, IN.
ABOUT E/ONE
Environment One Corporation (E/One) is a diversified,
high-technology company located in Niskayuna, New York, U.S.A. Manufacturing,
engineering, administration and marketing operations are managed from
Niskayuna. Environment One also maintains regional sales offices in key cities
in the U.S.A. and globally. Environment One Corporation is owned by Precision
Castparts Corp. (PCC), a worldwide manufacturer of complex metal components and
products, listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"PCP."
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Article Share: You can put ANYTHING into a Septic System ... Right?
Often when homeowners are told they have to convert from septic tanks to sewer systems -- especially sewer systems with grinder pumps -- they're quite surprised that they suddenly have a list of items they can't flush/pour down the drain.
"I never had these rules with my septic tank!" they say.
Or did they?
The January issue of Pumper magazine contained a great piece by Jim Anderson, Ph.D., 6 Tips Your Customers will Appreciate. The recommendations, for the most part, are the same for sewer systems. A few are items are even more restrictive than they are for sewer systems.
Here are the six tips summarized, but go to the article for the full context:
"I never had these rules with my septic tank!" they say.
Or did they?
The January issue of Pumper magazine contained a great piece by Jim Anderson, Ph.D., 6 Tips Your Customers will Appreciate. The recommendations, for the most part, are the same for sewer systems. A few are items are even more restrictive than they are for sewer systems.
Here are the six tips summarized, but go to the article for the full context:
- The toilet is not another wastebasket -- Mostly agreed. We've heard from many service techs about the crazy things that end up in the grinder pump as well. Household wastewater and toilet paper are all that belong. There is one point where we disagree with the author: "... the toilet is used as a handy wastebasket to flush away a number of items. This may work where homes are serviced by the 'big pipe' ..." NO!!! Ask any treatment plant operator how he feels about baby wipes and "flush and forget," and we bet he'll agree with us.
- Space out laundry loads -- This one is interesting and really applies only to septic tanks. Whether or not your sewer system involves a grinder pump, you don't have to worry about timing out your laundry chore.
- Avoid the garbage disposal -- Again, this one applies to septic tanks. You can have a garbage disposal with your grinder pump, but pay attention to what you're putting through the disposal. Did you know that you're not supposed to put meat and bones through the disposal? And that you're supposed to run the water for about 5 minutes to ensure your kitchen drain is clear?
- Dispose of medicines properly -- Agreed, and you're not supposed to throw them in the garbage, either, according to the EPA. Your town probably has a drug take-back day once or twice a year, or your pharmacy may take and dispose them.
- Say no to solvents -- Strong chemicals don't belong in any system.
- Give new systems a fresh start -- If you're buying at a home that has a grinder pump, find out everything you can about the system: age (if it's in an existing home), manufacturer, warranty (in a new or existing home), who is responsible for maintenance (you or the town), who is the local service provider (the town or a local company).
Monday, April 8, 2013
"You Can't Flush ANYTHING when You have a Grinder Pump"
(Notice that the headline is in quotes -- you'll learn why.)
As we've discussed on the blog before, new grinder pump owners feel incredibly limited by what they can pour or flush down the drain. They didn't have restrictions when they had septic tanks or gravity sewer systems, they say.
Are you sure?
We added a few video "Likes" to our YouTube channel last week about what not to flush and why. You may be saying, "Thanks for another reason to dislike a grinder pump ..."
Not so fast.
What's interesting about these videos is, not one of them ever mentions a grinder pump! Each video explains what what you should not be putting into the sewer system.
Still not convinced? Check out these links, found during a quick Google search (and have no obvious affiliation to E/One Sewer Systems):
Of course, wipes aren't the only reason we are paying more for sewer. ASCE's Infrastructure Report Card was released a few weeks ago. We'll discuss the D grade that America's wastewater infrastructure received.
We've already started on our Facebook page (you don't need to be a member to view our page, only to add comments).
As we've discussed on the blog before, new grinder pump owners feel incredibly limited by what they can pour or flush down the drain. They didn't have restrictions when they had septic tanks or gravity sewer systems, they say.
Are you sure?
We added a few video "Likes" to our YouTube channel last week about what not to flush and why. You may be saying, "Thanks for another reason to dislike a grinder pump ..."
Not so fast.
What's interesting about these videos is, not one of them ever mentions a grinder pump! Each video explains what what you should not be putting into the sewer system.
Still not convinced? Check out these links, found during a quick Google search (and have no obvious affiliation to E/One Sewer Systems):
- Village Requests Residents to Refrain from Flushing Baby Wipes -- Goreville, IL
- A kit by Goldstreet Designs, an agency that designs communications for the public utilities sector
- The Septic Tank Maintenance entry on Inspectapedia.com (very similar list to the grinder pump)
Of course, wipes aren't the only reason we are paying more for sewer. ASCE's Infrastructure Report Card was released a few weeks ago. We'll discuss the D grade that America's wastewater infrastructure received.
We've already started on our Facebook page (you don't need to be a member to view our page, only to add comments).
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Don't Fear the Grinder Pump!
"I heard you can't pour boiling water down the drain."
"I heard you can't use Charmin toilet paper."
"I heard you can't use drain cleaner."
"I heard you can't use cooking oil."
"I heard you can't ...."
The list goes on. We hear from homeowners who are worried about all of the things you "can't" do if you have a grinder pump -- not just an E/One grinder pump, but any grinder pump. Let's put the fears to rest:
Boiling water: We heard this one recently. If you're making pasta, yes, it's OK to pour the water down the drain. The water will stop boiling as soon as you turn off the stove, and by the time the water reaches the grinder pump, it will be cool.
Toilet paper limitations: You are free to use whatever brand of regular toilet paper you like ... but beware of flushable wipes! They don't break down in wastewater the same way regular toilet paper does (so they don't fall apart while you're using them). See post below for link to a Consumer Reports video and opinions from plumbers who have had to clear clogs. Even if they get through your drains and grinder pump, they're wreaking havoc on the lift stations and at the wastewater treatment plant. (Remember: your taxes pay for these services!)
Drain cleaner: Normal, household-use drain cleaner is fine to use (as opposed to commercial-grade, which is incredibly strong), but flush plenty of clean water down the drain until the pump turns on and clears out any drain cleaner that may be in the tank.You wouldn't leave chemicals soaking in your sink; you shouldn't do it to your grinder pump.
Cooking oil/Grease: Using cooking oil isn't the problem ... pouring large amounts of cooking oil down the drain is the problem. Oil isn't good for the pump, but again, the problem isn't limited to grinder pumps -- oil isn't good for ANY sewer system. Even if you fry up a pound of bacon, you'll have more grease than should go down the drain. Scrape it into the garbage can, wipe the pan, then wash it. Any residue will be minimal -- and the pan will be easier to wash.
Get a copy of our Grinder Pump Owners Guide
Typically, people have used the "flush and forget" rule: If they can can flush it down the drain without clogging, then they can forget about it ... never mind what may happen to the sewer mains, lift stations and treatment plant because it's not their responsibility. That's changing, though: some municipalities have said that if they can determine which household is responsible for flushing prohibited items, they will charge that household for repair costs.
References*
* These municipalities may or may not be E/One customers. We selected these links based on the quality of content and suggested "use and care" of their sewer systems.
"I heard you can't use Charmin toilet paper."
"I heard you can't use drain cleaner."
"I heard you can't use cooking oil."
"I heard you can't ...."
The list goes on. We hear from homeowners who are worried about all of the things you "can't" do if you have a grinder pump -- not just an E/One grinder pump, but any grinder pump. Let's put the fears to rest:
Boiling water: We heard this one recently. If you're making pasta, yes, it's OK to pour the water down the drain. The water will stop boiling as soon as you turn off the stove, and by the time the water reaches the grinder pump, it will be cool.
Toilet paper limitations: You are free to use whatever brand of regular toilet paper you like ... but beware of flushable wipes! They don't break down in wastewater the same way regular toilet paper does (so they don't fall apart while you're using them). See post below for link to a Consumer Reports video and opinions from plumbers who have had to clear clogs. Even if they get through your drains and grinder pump, they're wreaking havoc on the lift stations and at the wastewater treatment plant. (Remember: your taxes pay for these services!)
Drain cleaner: Normal, household-use drain cleaner is fine to use (as opposed to commercial-grade, which is incredibly strong), but flush plenty of clean water down the drain until the pump turns on and clears out any drain cleaner that may be in the tank.You wouldn't leave chemicals soaking in your sink; you shouldn't do it to your grinder pump.
Cooking oil/Grease: Using cooking oil isn't the problem ... pouring large amounts of cooking oil down the drain is the problem. Oil isn't good for the pump, but again, the problem isn't limited to grinder pumps -- oil isn't good for ANY sewer system. Even if you fry up a pound of bacon, you'll have more grease than should go down the drain. Scrape it into the garbage can, wipe the pan, then wash it. Any residue will be minimal -- and the pan will be easier to wash.
Get a copy of our Grinder Pump Owners Guide
Typically, people have used the "flush and forget" rule: If they can can flush it down the drain without clogging, then they can forget about it ... never mind what may happen to the sewer mains, lift stations and treatment plant because it's not their responsibility. That's changing, though: some municipalities have said that if they can determine which household is responsible for flushing prohibited items, they will charge that household for repair costs.
References*
* These municipalities may or may not be E/One customers. We selected these links based on the quality of content and suggested "use and care" of their sewer systems.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Grind Videos Available on YouTube
Have a suggestion for what you'd like to see the E/One pump grind? Let us know! eone@eone.com
Monday, April 6, 2009
Grinder Pump Product Spotlight: Model DH071
E/One's model DH071 grinder pump station is a popular option for single-family homes. The DH071 is a simplex station that includes one grinder pump with integrated level sensing controls, a 70-gallon tank made from HDPE, an an alarm panel. Available tank heights range from 61 inches to 160 inches.
The DH071 is a newer model of E/One's popular GP 2010 grinder pump station. The 2010 used E/One's 2000 Series grinder pump, while the DH071 uses E/One's Extreme Series grinder pump that was launched in 2007.
Visit E/One's web site for more information about the DH071 grinder pump and other E/One grinder pump stations.
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