Strengths and weaknesses of Sololift for sewerage

Sewerage in private housing construction is often a gravity-flow and energy-independent system.This is when pipe lines are laid at a certain angle from plumbing fixtures towards the sewer riser and septic tank, respectively. Sololift for sewerage is a device that is installed in cases where gravity flow of the utility network cannot be achieved.

Sololift connection

In terms of connection to sewer pipes, this is a classic plumbing device. No special knowledge of the installation process is required here, so many people do the installation themselves.

An important rule for installing Sololift for sewerage is free access to sewer pipe.

Conditions that must be met when installing a plumbing fixture:

1. Mandatory small gap within 1 cm between the wall or other plumbing element.
2. Installation location: no more than 40 cm from the outlet pipe.
3. The distance to the gravity section or to the septic tank is 50 m.
4. A slight slope of the pressure pipe is still necessary. This parameter is 1 mm.
5. The socket for the sololift must be at an accessible distance from the installation site of the device.

Connection to pipes is carried out using standard adapters, which are included in the package. Vibration-isolating material is placed under the device. Fastening is done with screws, dowels, supports and other fasteners. It can be attached to the floor, wall or other supporting structure of the building. All connections are coated with sealant.

After installation, the Sololift for sewerage is checked to ensure correct operation.

In the video, an example of installing a sololift for sewerage.

How Sololift works

Sololift is a regular pump. Although you can't tell by appearance. A submersible pump is installed inside the plastic case, and some models also include chopper. The latter is necessary for grinding household waste and sewage that the sewer pumps.

In addition, the design includes an inlet filter, a carbon filter, and a check valve. That is, this is a serious device that should provide a private home with efficient operation of the sewer system.

Operating principle of Sololift:

• sewage is drawn through the receiving filter;
• enter the pump storage tank;
• here the shredder, which is an impeller, cuts the waste into small pieces;
• then this entire mass is fed into the sewer pipe, on which a check valve is installed, the purpose of which is to prevent backflow into the sololift.

The carbon filter is installed on the lid of the device. Its task is to trap unpleasant odors. The hole itself on the cover is intended to create a vacuum inside the pump housing.

Sololift in a pressure system sewer should trigger when the tank is full and stop when it is empty. This process is controlled by a control unit, which includes:

• hydrodynamic thermal relay;
• pressure tubes that regulate the filling volume;
• float sensor.

The latter is the main element that sends signals to turn the pump on and off. It is programmed at the factory. You should not change parameters without permission. You can mess up the setting, causing the sololift to start working incorrectly.

Principle of operation

Characteristics

Characteristics that you need to pay attention to when choosing Sololift:

1. Power. Unit of measurement – ​​m³/h or l/min. Here is a small model range designed for domestic use: 10, 12 and 25 m³/h. It is usually selected according to the number of plumbing fixtures that are connected to the forced sewage pump. The more there are, the higher the productivity should be.
2. Temperature of pumped sewage. There are two options here - either up to +50 ℃, or up to +90 ℃. The first is used when connecting the Sololift to a toilet, sink or sink. The second, if the connection is made to a dishwasher, washing machine, or bathtub.
3. How long can Sololift work for sewerage? There are models that work short-term. They are installed to one plumbing fixture, for example, to toilet. There are durable models. For example, they can drain sewage from an entire private house. It is necessary to pay attention to some instructions from the manufacturer. In the work duration column there can be a percentage, for example, 50%. This means that the device will work for half a minute, then turn off and rest for the same half a minute.
4. Presence of a chopper. Not all models have this element.

Manufacturers stipulate the moment of installation of Sololift in the sewer under the bathtub. If you only take a shower, then there are no problems with its operation. If water procedures are carried out in a large volume of water, that is, with the bathtub completely filled, then the sololift, when discharging it into the sewer, simply cannot cope with such an amount of liquid.

Some companies offer devices that can be installed near the bathtub. They are powerful, large in size and have a high price.There is an option to install a conventional unit, but with the formation of an additional pit into which water flows from the bathtub, and from there the pump pumps the wastewater into the sewer.

Another design feature of some Sololift models for sewers is an alarm system. More often it is sound. Triggers when there is an overflow of liquid. Some manufacturers connect an alarm to the control unit of, for example, a dishwasher. The first one simply turns off the power supply to the last one.

Specifications

Model range of Sololift pumping units

Today, many companies produce pumps for pressure sewerage (domestic and foreign). Grundfos was the first. It produces pumping equipment for pressure sewerage under the Sololift brand. Here are several models for private housing construction.

WC-1

Designed for installation after the toilet. You can additionally connect a sink mounted in the toilet.

Specifications:

• productivity – 149 l/min;
• three positions according to the amount of pumped liquid: 4, 6 and 9 l;
• rise in height – up to 8.5 m;
• consumes electricity – 0.62 kW;
• the electric motor is dry, located in a sealed chamber;
• the housing can withstand pressure - 2.5 m in. Art.;
• weight – 7.3 kg;
• body volume – 9 l;
• temperature of drained waste – up to +50 ℃;
• operating mode – 50%;
• horizontal connection;
• the outlet pipe is strictly vertical;
• Installation location: behind the toilet. If a sink is connected, then the distance between the Sololift and the toilet is no more than 15 cm.

Sololift WC-1

WC-3

Designed for pumping sewage simultaneously from a large number of plumbing fixtures: toilet, sink, shower stall, bidet and urinal.

Characteristics:

• productivity – 149 l/min;
• maximum lift height – 8.5 m;
• electric motor power – 0.62 kW.

All other characteristics are identical to the previous model. But the WC-3 design has distinctive features. If WC-1 has only one additional entrance on the side, then WC-3 has two, one on each side and one on top (in the lid).

CWC-3

In appearance, this type of Sololift for sewerage differs from the two previous types. The model is narrow, and the main inlet pipe is located at the end of the body.

Typically, devices of this type are installed on wall-hung toilets with the additional connection of several more plumbing fixtures.

In all technical and installation characteristics, this Sololift is identical to the WC-3 brand.

S-3

Intended for pumping sewage containing insoluble solid particles larger than 20 mm in size. Therefore, installation is carried out under toilets, washing machines and dishwashers.

Characteristics:

• productivity – 185 l/min;
• maximum pressure – 8.8 m;
• electric motor power consumption – 0.64 kW;
• three additional connection pipes: one on top, two on opposite sides of the case;
• temperature of the pumped liquid – up to +90 ℃;
• weight – 6.6 kg;
• volume of the receiving container – 5.7 l.

D-2

Compact model with front mounting method. Can serve sink in the bathroom, shower and bidet.

Characteristics:

• productivity – 105 l/min;
• head – 5.5 m;
• motor power – 0.22 kW;
• two additional inlets;
• attached to the wall;
• container volume – 2 l;
• device weight – 4.3 kg;
• temperature of the pumped liquid – up to +50 ℃.

Sololift D-2

Sololift maintenance during operation

Periodic maintenance of plumbing fixtures is a guarantee of their long-term and trouble-free operation. Sololifts for sewerage also need to be serviced. Moreover, you only need to spend 3-4 minutes on this process. This is done like this:

• the device is disconnected from the power supply;
• the water supply is cut off, for example, to the toilet;
• the cover is removed from the Sololift, which is held in place by one screw - you need to unscrew it with a screwdriver;
• Unscrew the four screws holding the pump. The latter is removed;
• the storage tank is cleared of debris;
• assembly of parts and assemblies in reverse order.

Sololift breakdowns and their repair

Sololift pressure sewer pumps are reliable equipment. But they also cannot withstand improper use. Mainly the electric motor suffers. Reasons for a motor failure that simply burns out and must be replaced:

1. An object that could not be crushed got inside the pump: glass, a plastic bag, personal hygiene products, etc. The engine jams, which leads to overheating and burnout.
2. The temperature regime of the drained liquid was not maintained. The consequence is overheating of the electric motor and its burnout. There is only one way out - change the Sololift model.
3. Thick and sticky liquids were poured into the sewer, which the pump could only pump under heavy load, which led to its combustion.
4. Freezing Sololift and sewerage. This happens in winter in unheated dachas.
5. Depressurization of the pump and motor. As a result, water gets inside.

Sololift repair

Strengths and weaknesses of Sololift

The advantage of a sololift is the ability to easily organize sewerage in a house, regardless of the location of the sewer line. A toilet, shower and other plumbing fixtures can be installed even in the basement. And their sewer system will work.

Other advantages:

• small sizes;
• beautiful design;
• ease of installation and maintenance;
• It is economically easier to buy and install a Sololift than to move plumbing fixtures to other rooms;
• high reliability of the device;
• long-term operation without repair (warranty – 2 years).

The only downside is the price. But even this disadvantage is compensated by comfortable living in the house. Repairs will also be expensive. But to avoid it, you just need to follow the operating rules.

Sololift for a pressure sewer system is a solution to many problems associated with the installation of household plumbing fixtures if they are located below the sewer line. This happens quite often today, especially in houses where the ground floors are allocated for service premises.

What model of Sololift is in your home? What nuances of the work can you note? Write in the comments. Share the article on social networks and save it in bookmarks so as not to lose it.

Bathroom in the basement without sewerage - see how to organize it in the video.

Sources:

1. https://mr-build.ru/newsanteh/sololift.html
2. https://ensys-ltd.ru/content/catalog/grundfos/grundfos_sololift2.pdf
3. https://aqua-rmnt.com/kanalizaciya/podklyuchenie-sololifta-k-kanalizatsii-shema.html#i-6