What is the difference between a grinder pump and a sewage pump

Though it is pretty common to hear the terms used interchangeably, there's actually some pretty significant differences between a sewage pump and a grinder pump. Both are used at elevations where mechanical assistance is needed to move sewage up a grade. But what are those differences between them, and which type of pump should you use in which situation?

Here is a quick look at both types of pumps and the environments they should be used in. Overall, sewage pumps are able to handle some solids-handling capability, but only to a certain extent.

This type of pump is commonly used with basement toilets to pump the sewage up into the sewer lines for the home or utility with the solids still intact, or if a home is located in a low area and sewage must be pumped uphill into the sewer or septic system. Some sewage pumps are grinder pumps, but not all. Grinder pumps are a subtype of sewage pumps. Generally speaking, sewage pumps that are not grinder pumps can move sewage solids up to two inches in diameter that are easy to break down or dissolve.

Harder material will cause clogs and significant wear and tear on the pump. How much sewage do you need to pump? How far do you need to pump the waste? Will it contain a lot of solids? If you must pump to a pressurized main, you are better off with a grinder pump.

If you will be using a septic tank or gravity flow main, a general sewage ejector pump is a better choice. Have more questions? Contact the experts at Enviro-Line Co.

We represent manufacturers of water and wastewater pumping and treatment equipment and are proud to offer high-quality products and exceptional customer service. We work with everyone from single-family homes to commercial facilities, specializing in installations, replacements, repairs and maintenance.

Call us today for expert input on your questions or to schedule your next service. Pressure is then used to force the sewage into the discharge pipe. This means that they are better suited for moving low volumes of raw sewage over longer distances than sewage injector pumps. If you need sewage to be moved to your pressurized sewer main, a septic grinder pump will help you achieve this.

Within the septic grinder pump are blades that are used to grind the raw sewage into slurry before being discharged. From there, it is transported to the pressurized sewer main.

We recommend you install a grinder pump if you need to pump sewage to a pressurized sewer main. If you are pumping to a septic tank or a gravity flow sewer main, you are much better off with a sewage ejector pump. Septic grinder pumps are also designed to pump ground sewage over thousands of feet, which is a farther distance than sewage ejector pumps can offer.

The tradeoff is that grinder pumps can only pump low volumes of sewage. Sewage ejector pumps, on the other hand, can move high volumes of raw sewage up to gallons per minute for distances under feet.