E-1, Enviromental One Pumps - 508-838-9645

In the past, many home and businesses had to be built in lower elevation to city sewer and relied on having septic systems to process sewage coming out of the home or place of business.

Today, those same homes can delete the lines going out to the septic system, get rid of the septic system entirely and be connected to city sewer.  This is accomplished by adding a lift pump.  Lift pumps literally pump the sewage from a pit up to the city sewer in much the same way a small sewage ejector pump does.

The famed lift pump in New England is the Environmental One Pump.  These are easy to service lift pumps installed in a pit somewhere inline with the sewer line coming from your home or place of business.  The pit fills to a pre-determined level established by a series of float switches.  When the sewage reaches the level of the first float switch, the float rises and tips, using mercury or some other metallic conductor to complete a circuit.  When the circuit is complete, a pump activates and lifts sewage to the level of the city sewer.  Now the home is connected to city sewer.

The pump itself has the ability to grind solids.  However, do be careful for what you allow to go down the drain.  Disposable wipes, for instance do not do well.  Neither do feminine hygiene products or grease. 

Grease is something that collects in the pump by virtue of washing dishes.  We can do our best to practice not allowing grease to go down the drain.  However, it will eventually accumulate in the pit just by doing dishes. 

The following picture illustrates that grease and disposable wipes will accumulate on the float system and other components of the E-1 pump.

As stated, we can prevent E-1 failure by not allowing disposable wipes to enter the E-1 pit.  However, grease will need to be cleaned away from the float surface as it will weigh the float down and not permit the float to rise, and complete the circuit for activating the pump.

Sewer and Drain Maintenance (508) 838-9645

Sewer and drain maintenance prevents sewer backups and clogged drains.  No one wants the inconveniences of a sewer blockage.  Clogged drains are an annoyance and depending on where they occur, the stoppage stops more than the flow of water.  A clogged tub or shower drain stops daily activity.  So, why not implement a sewer and drain maintenance program?  But how?

Most people make the mistake of believing and trusting in caustic, corrosive drain cleaning solutions and gels.  Why not?  Surely no production company of sewer and drain cleaning chemicals would manufacture a product that would harm my plumbing?

Beginning with galvanized drain lines, using one of these caustic corrosives will erode the interior of the pipe.  Suppose, the blockage causes the pipe to be completely closed.  Adding a solution of corrosive drain cleaner to the problem means that once flow is restored, the corrosive coats the pipe above the water line in the pipe.  Water will not always reach all inside surface areas of the pipe and the corrosive is left to continue eating at the pipe wall.  Cast iron pipe meets a similar fate.  However, the density of the pipe allows it to survive longer than galvanized pipe.

Vitrified clay pipe (clay mixed with molten glass) is somewhat durable to impact and will support the weight of earth packed around it.  Aside from being subject to root intrusion, vitrified clay pipe stands up well and generally maintains a clean surface, resisting buildup.  Buildup does occur when the pipe is infiltrated with roots or offsets occur at the joints.  The following video demonstrates the effects chemical drain cleaners can have on vitrified clay pipe due to its' glass property...




Rather than take the short term goal approach to maintaining a sewer and drain system with corrosives, begin a regiment of bacterial sewer and drain maintenance.

First, start fresh.  Have all of the lines in your home and main sewer line cleaned by a professional.  High pressure water jetting is the industry standard.  Water jetting will allow the pipe to be completely free of scale, grease and buildup. 

After having your sewer and drain lines water jetted with high pressure water, begin a regiment of bacteria sewer and drain maintenance.  Bacteria (non-pathogenic) will survive and repopulate in the sewer and drain system.  To a point, bacteria is both temperature and chemical resistant. 

Bacteria approaches solids and buildup in sewer and drain lines, identifies the substance and determines what enzymes are needed to break down the offending agent to smaller particles, digestible by bacteria.  The end result of the digestive cycle is water and carbon monoxide.  The fats, vegetables other substances are evicted in the form of carbon monoxide gas through the sewer vent and water draining out into the sewer.