Submersible Sewage vs Grinder Pump: What's the Difference?

When it comes to managing sewage and waste, submersible sewage and grinder pumps are two popular options. While both are effective in their own fields, there are some key differences between the two that you should be aware of before making a decision.

1.What are they?

Firstly, let us figure out what is a submersible sewage pump and what is a grinder pump.

Submersible sewage pumps are designed to handle large volumes of sewage and waste in residential and commercial settings. These pumps are installed in a sump pit or basin and are submerged in water, allowing them to pump out waste and sewage to a main sewer line or septic tank. They typically have a non-clogging vortex impeller that can handle solids up to a certain size. 

Below is the general sewage pumps and each pump is equipped with a vortex type impeller and max. solids passage.

Grinder pumps, on the other hand, are specifically designed to handle solid waste and fibrous materials that can clog traditional sewage pumps. These pumps are equipped with a cutting mechanism that grinds up waste and debris, allowing them to pass through the impeller without causing blockages. Grinder pumps are often used in residential and commercial settings where there is a higher likelihood of clogs and blockages.

2.What's The Difference

So, what are the main differences between submersible sewage and grinder pumps?

There are several factors here to distinguish the two pumps.

Design Purpose

Submersible sewage pumps are designed to handle large volumes of raw sewage and waste, while grinder pumps are specifically designed to handle solid waste and fibrous materials and pump it through small-diameter pipes. 

Cutting Mechanism

Grinder pumps have a cutting mechanism that grinds up waste and debris, while submersible sewage pumps typically have a non-clogging impeller that can pass through large sized solids.

Applications

Sewage pumps are typically used in residential and commercial applications, such as homes, small businesses, and apartment buildings.

Grinder pumps are typically used in applications where the sewage must be pumped uphill to a septic tank or municipal sewer line. They are often used in low-pressure sewer systems, which are designed to handle wastewater in areas where traditional gravity sewer systems are not feasible.

Maintenance

Submersible sewage pumps are generally low maintenance, while grinder pumps require more maintenance due to their cutting mechanism. 

Cost

Grinder pumps are typically more expensive than submersible sewage pumps due to their specialized design and cutting mechanism. But they are more reliable in applications where solids and other debris are present. Grinder pumps are also typically more energy-efficient than submersible sewage pumps, as they use less electricity to grind up solid waste.

3.The Benefits of Installing a Grinder Pump Over a Sewage Pump

Traditional sewage pumps often encounter performance and efficiency issues during operation, as they consume high amounts of energy, have a narrow range of use, and are not adaptable to the development of the times.

In municipal engineering, submersible pumps are commonly used for sewage, but they frequently encounter problems during heavy rain, such as clogging due to leaves, branches, and rubbish.

Furthermore, the impeller of common sewage pumps is made of cast iron, which has a short service life and requires frequent replacement, leading to high replacement and construction costs.

Lastly, conventional submersible grinder pumps have design flaws that prevent them from cutting strips containing rubbish, causing the impeller to become entangled, the pump to rotate independently, and the motor to burn out.

To address these issues, the grinder pumps have been developed through multi-technical cooperation and over a year of design improvements. The new grinder pumps apply a non-clogging cutting impeller that can cut heavy waste containing cloth, plastic, paper, branches, and leaves without clogging the pump, reducing maintenance costs. The impeller is made of alloy material, which gives it a longer service life and lowers usage costs. Cutting sewage pumps are a new and improved product that replaces old municipal sewage pumps.

In summary, submersible grinder pumps offer significant performance advantages during wastewater operation compared to traditional sewage pumps. They are efficient, reliable, and have a longer service life, making them a worthwhile investment for municipal engineering and other wastewater management applications.