We Install & Repair Grinder Pumps in Austin
Living in the Austin area Hill Country is a dream come true for many, but that beautiful house overlooking Lake Travis may require some specialty plumbing. In Austin, grinder pumps are used in homes or businesses located on hillsides or steep inclines. They are also used in homes that are not tied into city sewer lines and instead use septic systems. The grinder pump’s job is to break down the wastewater and then pump it upward to the septic tank or the city sewer lines. When the grinder pump malfunctions, it can mean disaster for the home or business owner. The sewage will come back into the house and can even flood lower level floors with wastewater. This is why it’s so important to be sure that your grinder pump is working at 100%.
We're Local Grinder Pump Experts
Although grinder pumps are common in the Texas Hill Country, they are not all that common elsewhere so many homeowners and even plumbing companies do not know much about them. Our team at Reliant Plumbing has over five decades of experience working on grinder pumps in all types of plumbing systems. Because of home office is in Lakeway, we are experts on plumbing in the areas of Austin with hills or steep inclines around Lake Travis. Give us a call to discuss any grinder pump issues or questions with one of our master plumbers!
Our Most Common Grinder Pump Questions
How does a grinder pump work?
A grinder pump works similarly to your garbage disposal but on a much larger scale. All of the home’s wastewater from showers, toilets, washing machines, etc is routed through the grinder pump where it is broken down into a liquid that easily flows through the pump. The grinder pump is located in a tank that has large capacity to store wastewater. When the tank reaches its capacity, the grinder pump is triggered to turn on, grind the wastewater, and pump it out of the tank through the city sewer pipes or septic tank. They usually run for just one to two minutes and then turn off again.
Where is the grinder pump located?
The location of the grinder pump varies from home to home, but it is usually buried in a convenient outdoor location on the homeowner’s property. However, there are some grinder pumps units available now that are designed for indoor installation.
Why do some homes & businesses need a grinder pump?
There is only one reason your home or business may need a grinder pump. In Austin many homes and businesses are located on a hillside, being designed and built to compensate for an incline. Usually, wastewater flows through the sewer system by gravity. Sewer pipes are carefully graded to specific inclines to ensure proper wastewater flow. However, this sometimes isn’t an option due to the incline that the property is located on. When the home’s sewer pipes are below the city sewer main or septic system located at the edge of the property, wastewater would have to flow uphill. Since this is impossible, grinder pumps are used to pump the water uphill.
What type of grinder pumps do you recommend?
In the Austin area, we see a lot of newer homes with “builder’s grade” grinder pumps installed. This means the builder cut costs by installing a system that may not last as long as it should and could eventually have issues that result in a massive inconvenience or even damage to your home.
Reliant Plumbing recommends that you install a Barnes duplex system for your grinder pump. This system has two pumps, which offers peace of mind to the homeowner. In the worst case scenario that a pump fails, the second pump will continue to function. There is also a loud alarm that lets you know you are now operating on a one pump system and you need a repair right away. The duplex system works like an energy generator, providing you with a back up plan in case of failure. With this system, it is very unlikely that you will have sewage backed up into your home possibly saving you tens of thousands of dollars.
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Our plumbing experts are available to take care of your repair today. They’ll evaluate your problem, provide a solution & upfront price, and then get to work!
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