The Purpose Of A Lift Station

Do you have a septic system that is deep in the ground? Maybe your septic tank is uphill from your home. If so, your septic system will probably have a lift station. The purpose of a lift station is to push wastewater higher when the pipes are too deep for wastewater to make it to the septic tank or drain field without assistance. Lift stations move the sewage to the septic tank, so you don’t have a backup from using toilets or running water into drains.

How Does a Lift Station Operate?

A lift station consists of several components. It has a pump, a basin, and controls that gather sewage and move it uphill to the next stage of the system, ensuring proper flow and preventing backups in areas with uneven terrain.

Types of lift stations

Submersible Lift Stations

Submersible lift stations are the most frequently used type of lift station. They consist of a submersed pump in a “wet well” that accumulates wastewater from a home or office. Submersibles are made up of a pump to move the sewage, a watertight basin, floating switches that are activated when wastewater accumulates, and a discharge pipe to move the wastewater to the septic tank. They can move both liquids and solids.

Grinder Pump Lift Stations

The name says it all: Grinder pump lift stations grind (or shred) solid waste into a slurry-like liquid so it can be easily moved to the septic tank. Like a submersible lift station, the grinder pump lift station has a watertight basin. It also has a control panel with alarms and float switches. It has a smaller diameter pipe because all the solids from a home are converted into liquids. This process also requires less power because the waste is easier to move.

Dry Well Lift Stations

A dry well lift station is situated in a dry well next to a wet well that collects wastewater from a home. When the wet well becomes filled to a certain level, the pump turns on and sucks up the sewage through a suction line to the septic tank.

What Should You Do When a Lift Station Malfunctions?

When a lift station malfunctions, it can be expensive and time-consuming. The best way to deal with a broken lift station is to prevent it from malfunctioning in the first place. A qualified septic service should routinely service your lift station. Why? Because if you don’t have your septic system regularly serviced, a number of issues could arise.

Sewage Buildup

If wastewater can’t easily move from your home to a septic tank because of a broken lift station, you will experience a foul and messy backup that can cause property damage. If the backup is severe enough, you may have to leave your home while expensive cleanup and repairs are performed.

A Terrible Smell in Your Home

When a lift station isn’t able to efficiently push sewage away from your home, it will back up and cause an overpowering odor.

Contamination of Groundwater

If the waste in your septic can’t travel far enough, it may drain into the groundwater and contaminate nearby wells.

How Does Lift Station Maintenance Work?

There are several steps in maintaining a lift station. A septic expert who inspects a lift station can immediately identify any possible issues. There are several components a septic expert will examine:

Check Valves

Check valves; they should be inspected for damage and then coated with grease to ensure they are in good shape.

Wet Wells

As we mentioned earlier, a wet well is responsible for holding sewage. In order to prevent any issues, a wet well needs routine pumping out and cleaning to remove a buildup of solids.

Alarm Systems

An alarm will inform you if the sewage level in a wet well is unsafe. If the alarm fails to sound, it could lead to expensive repairs and a large mess to clean up.

Impellers

An impeller pushes wastewater through the system. It is made of metal or durable plastic and has curved blades that spin rapidly, creating a centrifugal force to propel sewage. If it doesn’t work, the whole lift station won’t work.

Electrical Systems

Electrical components must be inspected to verify there are no problems so the lift station can continue working.

Collection System Pipes

If you want your lift station to continue to function, the collection pipes should be clear of blockages. A qualified and experienced septic service will clear out the pipes and remove any obstructions to ensure your lift station works as it should.

Let Lakeland Septic Maintain Your Lift Station

If you have a lift station for your septic system and it has been some time since it was serviced, contact us. We will dispatch a septic expert to determine if your lift station has any issues and to maintain it. Don’t wait until your lift station breaks; get in touch today.