How to Install a Grinder Pump System

Before you can install a grinder pump system for your house sewage, you’ll need to get permission from your local municipality. Once everything is in order, follow the simple steps below for an easy installation.

Step 1 – Excavate

Start by preparing the space where you’ll be installing the grinder pump system. The pump itself should be installed where its stink won’t be bothersome to you and your family members. As such, you’ll need to excavate an area in the ground that will link your home to the sewage pipes. Dig a hole for the pump’s compartment although the grinder pump system’s lid should be accessible over ground level for proper ventilation. When excavating, dig slightly more than the measurements of the compartment because you’ll be backfilling around the system. Nevertheless, compress the soil before inserting it.

Step 2 – Install the Unit

Look for 2 openings on your grinder pump system. There should be one hole to emit the waste (referred to as the discharge) and another to receive the waste from the home (referred to as the inlet). Use PVC pipes to connect appropriately. Wire up the conduit and connect the cables to the control panel near your home electric meter. Don’t forget to ground the unit. Set-up the switches for the float alarm in an easily reachable area for detecting if the waste exceeds a certain height in your compartment. At this point, you can also set the limit for the float alarm.

Step 3 – Backfill

Appropriate backfill to anchor the grinder pump system and its pipes will depend on the soil. Consult with your local home improvement store so that you can purchase the best backfill for your area. Whatever the case, the backfill should not include clay or silt because they’re not compactable around the pipes. Pour the backfill into the space around your grinder pump system and compress. This ensures a more secure and longer-lasting installation.

Step 4 – Provide Ventilation

Note the location of the vent pipe in the grinder pump system’s lid and make sure that the pipe is open to the air. If possible, you may want to work with the ground around the unit such that it slopes away. This makes sure that water and dirt don’t accidentally block the vent pipe.

Step 5 – Test the System

The owner’s manual for the control panel will detail how you can test your grinder pump system. If you’re installation was successful, the sewage from your home should enter the underground compartment. When the waste reaches the limit you set during installation, the unit should automatically activate and grind the waste so that it can be safely pumped out to the city sewage. Afterwards, the system should also automatically shut off when all is done. If the testing works out as expected, you’ve successfully installed the unit and can start it up.