ᐅ Small Sewage Lifting Unit vs. Backflow Preventer Valve (Basement)
Created on: 1 Jul 2019 11:48
K
kleinesHaus83K
kleinesHaus831 Jul 2019 11:48Hello,
I want to have a water softening system installed and have already obtained several quotes.
Now, I have received different statements from plumbers regarding the backwater valve and lifting station. Currently, nothing is installed, but in the basement there is a small (currently unsecured) drain for the washing machine, sink, heating system, and in the future also for the discharges from the softening system. This concerns only wastewater, so no toilet wastewater in the basement.
One plumber, in particular, mentioned that backwater valves require frequent maintenance (and are not very reliable), and that the homeowner’s insurance might not cover damage if you maintain the valve yourself, meaning a professional plumber would always need to perform the maintenance.
With the lifting station, the discharge would be routed to the basement ceiling and connected to an existing (higher-level) drain for a guest toilet.
According to the previous owner and my own experience, there have been no problems with water in the basement for the last 3 years, but you never know.
Does it make sense to include the drainage plan in this? It shows the heights and slope towards the street sewer connection. What is your opinion on this? Advantages/disadvantages?
Looking forward to your honest feedback, I’m a layperson.
I want to have a water softening system installed and have already obtained several quotes.
Now, I have received different statements from plumbers regarding the backwater valve and lifting station. Currently, nothing is installed, but in the basement there is a small (currently unsecured) drain for the washing machine, sink, heating system, and in the future also for the discharges from the softening system. This concerns only wastewater, so no toilet wastewater in the basement.
One plumber, in particular, mentioned that backwater valves require frequent maintenance (and are not very reliable), and that the homeowner’s insurance might not cover damage if you maintain the valve yourself, meaning a professional plumber would always need to perform the maintenance.
With the lifting station, the discharge would be routed to the basement ceiling and connected to an existing (higher-level) drain for a guest toilet.
According to the previous owner and my own experience, there have been no problems with water in the basement for the last 3 years, but you never know.
Does it make sense to include the drainage plan in this? It shows the heights and slope towards the street sewer connection. What is your opinion on this? Advantages/disadvantages?
Looking forward to your honest feedback, I’m a layperson.
G
Gartenfreund2 Jul 2019 07:44In our house, the basement floor consists of a few centimeters (inches) of tamped concrete. At one point, a hole was made and a sump pit was concreted in. A wastewater pump was installed and connected via a hose to the wastewater pipe running along the ceiling. This pipe is located above the backflow level.
I assume your basement floor is thicker and may even meet different requirements. Therefore, I would consider whether you could close off the current drain and collect all the water you mentioned in a plastic tank or barrel. Then, using a wastewater pump like the one I have, you could pump the water into the sewer system.
The pump is not expensive and usually requires little maintenance. In case of need, you can find one at any hardware store.
I assume your basement floor is thicker and may even meet different requirements. Therefore, I would consider whether you could close off the current drain and collect all the water you mentioned in a plastic tank or barrel. Then, using a wastewater pump like the one I have, you could pump the water into the sewer system.
The pump is not expensive and usually requires little maintenance. In case of need, you can find one at any hardware store.
The drainage plan should show how the greywater connections in the basement relate to the backwater level in the sewer system—that is, whether any protection measures are necessary at all.
If protection is required and both options (backwater valve or lifting station) are possible, the lifting station with a loop is certainly the more technically advanced solution, but it is also more expensive to purchase and install. Even if no problems have occurred so far, I would recommend taking preventive action at critical elevation levels, especially considering the increasing frequency of heavy rainfall events.
Regarding maintenance: the effort required for the lifting station is at least as high as for the valve, since the installed pump also needs regular maintenance.
If protection is required and both options (backwater valve or lifting station) are possible, the lifting station with a loop is certainly the more technically advanced solution, but it is also more expensive to purchase and install. Even if no problems have occurred so far, I would recommend taking preventive action at critical elevation levels, especially considering the increasing frequency of heavy rainfall events.
Regarding maintenance: the effort required for the lifting station is at least as high as for the valve, since the installed pump also needs regular maintenance.
Similar topics