Replies

1. 
   EricPaulson | Apr 22, 2004 03:29am | #1

   Though I couldn't tell you where to look, I think a pump like that is around $500.00.

   Plus install........

2. 
   caseyr | Apr 22, 2004 05:09am | #2

   If the problem is a short in the motor wiring, you should be able to have the motor itself rewound.  If is because of a frozen bearing in the pump or damaged vanes, impeller, or whatever, then I think I would see if I could manage to repair it or use the existing motor with a replacement pump (although if it is a submersible, that might not be feasible). 

   Don't know anything about this brand, but perhaps a price comparison:

   http://www.sewagepumpsales.com/zoellergrinderpumps.htm

   http://www.deanbennett.com/zoeller-840-commercial-sewage-grinder.htm

1. 
   alwaysoverbudget | Apr 22, 2004 05:47am | #3

   is there a difference between a grinder pump and sewage ejector pump? i'm going to have to put one in the new house and i was told 250- 350.00 for a ejector pump. now i'm worried this is going to cost a lot more than planned on.larry

1. 
   caseyr | Apr 22, 2004 06:47am | #5

   There appears to be a difference between grinder and regular ejector pumps.  The grinder pumps, as the name implies, grinds as well as pumps.  They also seem to be considerably more expensive than regular ejector pumps.  There are probably better descriptions, but you might check the following:

   http://www.keidel.com/mech/pumps-ejector.htm

   My primary experience with a sewage ejector pump was at the S&H (the Green Stamps people of yore) warehouse in South San Francisco.  I was working for an insurance company that covered the building.  The company decided that they wanted a showroom and that required a restroom.  Rather than tear up the slab of the warehouse to run the sewer pipe, they ran the waste pipe up and along the beams in the center of the warehouse and then down to the city sewer out back. 

   It seems that a number of women ignored the signs and proceeded to dump their used Kotexes down the toilet which were then pumped over to the elbow near the sewer where they jammed quite solidly.  The pump continued pumping and must have been fairly powerful because the pipe exploded about midway across the warehouse.  Needless to say, there wan't too much argument about paying the claim for a significant portion of the inventory in the warehouse. 

   It may not have hit the fan, but it sure did hit a lot of boxes of merchandise...

   Edited 4/21/2004 11:54 pm ET by CaseyR

3. 
   goldhiller | Apr 22, 2004 05:56am | #4

   Have you checked for clean firm wiring connections? Poor ground can cause high amperage draw and cause tripping of a good breaker.

   I'd also change out the breaker if connections are renewed/confirmed and it still trips. Breakers go bad. Doesn't cost much to change out that breaker. You could change out the pump and and then find out the breaker is the culprit. Ugh.

   Or you could renew/confirm the wiring connections and then monitor the pump draw with an amp meter. That *should* tell the story.

   Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 4/21/2004 10:58 pm ET by GOLDHILLER

4. 
   Snort | Apr 22, 2004 11:55pm | #6

   I've got one in a 1200gal tank , head 20' , cost $600 installed.

   The floats can screw up, make the alarm go off and trip breaker, but a good smack can straighten 'em back out.

   Don't worry, we can fix that later!

5. 
   booch | Apr 23, 2004 12:05am | #7

   I have a home sized Grinder pump. 220 Volt 1 Ph 15A. Price seems to hit me at 2500 including the fiberglass 55 gallon drum the plumbers set in the basement floor. 

   That's merde work. All sealed motor with SS impellers.

   If you reset the breaker and it runs. It works?...

   Cheapest effort may be to replace the breaker. Then again you could be single phasing or the float might not be turning off the pump and the motor is overheating without the liquid to cool it.

   You need more scientific info before you should spend big money. Sounds like the pump technician is doing the autorepair plan... keep changing parts til it is fixed or the customer runs out of money. 

   Jack of all trades and master of none - you got a problem with that?
6. 
   remodelerdw | Apr 23, 2004 03:27am | #8

   I deal with grinder/ejectors somewhat frequently.  Zoeller makes a good product, personally I use hydromatic.  there should be a rep in your area.  That price doesn't seem out of the ball park, but as to the wide variance the difference between a grinder and an ejector is usually the tdh the pump is designed to handle.

   An ejector is usually pumping from a basement shower/toilet up to the sanitary lateral.

   A grinder is usually used in areas where the closest sanitary sewer invert is higher than the house(s) affected, and a lift station would be cost prohibitive for the small number of lots.  Thus a shared force main between a small number of houses up to a gravity manhole.  If Dennis's pump is pushing 1000' of 3" force main up 30 or 40' of elevation, it takes a substantial pump.  So then the $1900 price and the 2hp 230v spec seems reasonable.

   Get a direct quote from a hydromatic dealer. 

   remodeler