Tips

Suggestions to keep costs down on Lift Stations.

In general, operators and maintenance men tend to "stay away" from a lift station and check it only when a warning light or an alarm comes on. By this time, both pumps have quit and the system is backed up. Invariably, this scenario occurs at the end of the day or on weekends, or at least carries over into this time.

After the service company comes out, they find that both pumps have a problem. First of all, you may need a vaccuum truck, then you need a second call to pull pumps and install a rental pump and a third service call to install a new pump and a forth serice call to pull this rental and install the repaired pump. The repairs and overtime are excessive and your customers are unhappy along with you.

Your lift station will probably be a part of the property forever. Preventive Maintenance will keep the cost to a minimum. Here are a few suggestions.

  1. Make sure pumps are the proper size. One pump should handle normal flow and only run 3-4 hours per day and 3-4 starts per hour.
  2. Have a good control system in a neat and orderly fashion, also have an electrical schematic for everyone to see and use.
  3. Have one spare pump.
  4. Have an elapse time meter for each pump.
  5. Have accessibility to lift station for service.

First of all, both pumps should run approximately the same amount of time if the alternator is working and the pumps are of equal size and condition.

Secondly, by reading the elapse time meters every day, you will know when one pump is not carrying its load.

Third, by putting the first alarm float in between the lead and lag pumps and having it flash on alarm, you will know when one pump is not keeping up with the flow.

This is an early warning that you have a problem occurring. But you should still have one good pump. This gives you time to schedule and address the problem on a regular time basis. The second alarm float will bring the red light on steady with no flashing.

Therefore, by having a spare pump, the services company can pull the bad pump and check to see if it needs to go into the shop for repair. If so, they can install your spare pump and the station is back in full service with only one service call and no overtime, hopefully. Then you can get quotes on repairs or replacement.

COST SAVINGS

  1. One Service Call.
  2. Repair on Regular Time.
  3. Order Parts on Standard Freight Shipments.
  4. Equal Time on Pumps.
  5. No Backed Up Sewers
  6. No Sewer Spills.
  7. Large Cost Savings.
  8. Large Energy Savings.
  9. Happy Customers.
  10. Happy Everyone.

If you should have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.

ALL-PUMP & EQUIP. CO.