Grinder pump systems are special pumping units intended for homes that lie at a lower elevation than the neighboring sewer lines. The grinder pump, as its name suggests, grinds up any materials in your wastewater and then forcibly pumps it into the nearest sewer pipe to remove the wastewater from your property.
Grinder pump systems are typically robust and don’t require much maintenance, but if something goes wrong, you need to know what to do. A malfunctioning grinder pump will only be able to hold around 24 hours’ worth of waste, so time is of the essence!
Troubleshooting Your Grinder Pump System
1 – If the alarm sounds
Should something go wrong within the pump, you’ll first be notified by an alarm and accompanying flashing light on its alarm panel box. Should this happen, look for a button on the bottom of the panel. That button will shut off the audible alarm.
Then, wait. In many cases, the pump will be able to sort itself out given a little time, and the flashing light will turn off. However, if an hour passes and the alarm light is still flashing, you’ll need to call for service and repairs.
Do not try to repair the pump yourself! It’s dangerous in multiple ways and can only be safely serviced by trained professionals.
2 – If there are foul odors from the pump
Your grinder pump should be odorless and contain all unpleasant materials inside. Should you start smelling waste, try flushing the system with clean water. Simply leave an indoor water faucet running down the drain for around 10 minutes and see if that clears up the issue.
If it’s still smelly after flushing the system, call for repairs.
3 – If there is a power failure
If your power goes off, and the pump doesn’t have a backup power source, it will no longer be able to function. This will most likely trigger the alarm as well. Try to reduce your water usage during this time, such as not taking a shower, until power is restored, and the pump can clear itself out.
If power comes back, but the alarm fails to shut off after an hour, call for service.
FloRight Can Maintain Your Grinder Pump System
If you have a grinder pump on your Arizona property that is malfunctioning, FloRight can help! We’re experts in all wastewater pumping systems. Remember, you only have about 24 hours before it fills up, so call us ASAP for help!
