Sump Pump Installation and Repair

August 15th, 2013 Posted in Sump Pumps and Ejector Pumps
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Sump pumps are a critical part of keeping every basement dry, especially on those homes where it is not possible to “daylight” the drain tile.  On these homes the rainwater collected in the drain tile and stone drainage system installed along the footings is not allowed to escape and stays in place.  Ultimately this leads to basement leaks!  In an ideal world, the drain tile would be run out to a point on the property below the level of the footings and be allowed to escape by gravity.  However, this is not possible on many properties because of grade conditions and the only solution available to keep basements dry in this situation, is to install a sump pump pit and a sump pump.

A sump pit is installed level with the basement floor, where drainage pipes from the footing allow the water in the drain tile and stone to flow into the pit.  The sump pump, which is electrically powered, is installed in the pit.  When a sensor detects water in the pit, the sump pump then turns on and pumps the water out of the pit and to the outside of the home via a sealed pipe.

As with most mechanical systems, it is critical that the sump pump system be regularly inspected by a qualified contractor, who installs and services sump pump systems.  They have the expertise and qualifications to quickly and economically repair or replace the pump as necessary.  In addition, they can install a completely new sump pump system, including pit and pump, if necessary.  A properly installed and maintained sump pump is critical to keeping a basement dry.

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Drain Line Repairs

August 15th, 2013 Posted in Drain Lines
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Drain lines are used to carry sewage or wastewater away from both commercial and residential properties.  Drain lines carrying sewage and “gray” water from a building usually begin outside of the building and run into a public or private sewer system or into a septic systems.  Often there will be a similar system that carries storm water that is collected in gutters or in roof drains, which drain into a dedicated storm water management system such as a detention pond.  Often, both of these systems will require repairs due to breakage or blockage.

One of the most common issues seen is a sewage drain line that is not flowing properly and has a blockage.  All drain lines are required to be installed at a specific slope, which keeps the solid sewage flowing.  On drain lines with too steep or too shallow a slope and the solid sewage stops flowing and causes backups.  The only way to correct this issue is to dig up the pipe and re-install it at the right pitch and on a suitable base.  Care must be taken when backfilling the excavation not to change the pitch of the pipe.  In drain lines carrying storm water, the most common problem is also blockages, which are usually the result of a foreign object getting caught in the drain line.  Gravel, stones and cans are often found in these pipes.

A qualified contractor specializing in drain line repairs has the expertise to identify the problem and make the necessary corrections, quickly, neatly and in a professional and economical manner.  In addition, they have state of the art TV cameras to visually inspect the pipe and precisely locate where the problem is, which greatly reduces the need for destructive and expensive investigations to isolate the nature of the problem.

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Grease Trap Pumping and Cleaning

August 15th, 2013 Posted in Grease Traps
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Any commercial business operating a commercial kitchen is required to have all wastewater from the kitchen flow into a grease trap.  The size of the tank is determined by the size of the kitchen and is mandated by local building codes.  As one would expect the purpose of the grease trap is to capture all the grease that is in the water from the dishwashing process before it gets into the public sewer system.  Grease significantly reduces the effective diameter of the pipe, which will eventually lead to the pipe becoming clogged and the sewage system being backed up.

As with any other mechanical system, grease traps need to be pumped and cleaned out on a regular basis in order to eliminate odors, as well as to make sure that the trap is capturing grease effectively and not causing blockages “upstream” in the kitchen.  In addition, the trap should be cleaned, as well as the pipe leading from the kitchen to the grease trap.  Since the pipe leading from the kitchen to the grease trap carries grease in the wastewater, it is susceptible to blockages.

A qualified contractor with a dedicated staff that specializes in commercial pumping and cleaning grease traps can accomplish this work quickly and economically.  They will also be able to set up a recurring service of the tank, depending upon how busy the commercial kitchen is.  This work will be scheduled whenever possible “after hours” in order to minimize the disruption to the operations of the commercial business.

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Ejector Pumps

August 15th, 2013 Posted in Sump Pumps and Ejector Pumps
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Many homes have an either a full or partial bathroom located in the basement.  Often, because of the elevation of the below slab plumbing in the basement and the sewer or the septic tank and drain field, which is at a higher elevation, it is not possible for the sewage and waste water from the basement bathroom to be removed by a traditional gravity fed sewer.

Instead of the sewage and waste water flowing into the sewage or septic system by traditional gravity means, it is necessary to collect the sewage and waste water in a holding tank, where an ejector pump is used to pump the sewage and waste water out of the basement and into the existing sewage or septic system, which is at a higher elevation.  Without these pumps, it would not be possible to have a bathroom in many finished basements.

In today’s economic environment, many homeowners are choosing to finish their basements instead of buying a new home.   Whenever possible a bathroom should be included in the scope of the project because of the value it adds to a home.  A qualified contractor specializing in drainage systems can evaluate the home’s need for an ejector pump system for the basement bathroom.

In addition, they can install the storage tank, as well as the ejector pump.  In addition, they can also install an alarm system to notify the homeowner of the pump’s failure.  The contractor can also perform regularly scheduled inspections and repairs of the system.  As with any other mechanical system in a home, the periodic inspection maintenance and repair of the ejector pump by a qualified contractor is required to keep all systems operating properly!

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Drain Field Installation and Repair

August 15th, 2013 Posted in Drain Field
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Drain fields are a critical part of every septic system.  It is here that fluids from the septic tank are discharged into a pipe system where they leech out into the soil.  While it may look that drain fields are all the same, this is not the case, as each drain field is designed based upon the sewage load of the home, which is based primarily on the number of potential occupants of the home and not the number of bathrooms.

Also factored into the design are the soil composition, existing and proposed grades, as well as the number and length of the pipes servicing the drain field.  Drain fields are not permitted to have any thing other than grass on them.  Trees and plants can have their roots find their way into the drainage pipes, blocking their ability to allow the fluids to flow in the pipe and leech into the soils.

While drain fields can last for many years, it may become necessary at some point to install a new drain field as the drainage pipes fill up over time.  Often repairs are necessary as well, especially if heavy equipment has driven over the drain field and crushed a drainage pipe.  One of the signs of a drain field issues is a “wet” area in the drain field when it has been dry.

A qualified septic contractor will be able to evaluate your drain field and make the most cost effective recommendation to either replace or repair the drain field, in order to restore the septic system to proper working order.  The proposed work will be permitted, inspected, professionally done and most importantly economically.

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