Cleaning lifting stations, pumps and shafts in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Where a drain sits lower than the sewer, nothing moves on its own. A pump then lifts the waste water to the level from which it flows away by itself. That applies to basement bathrooms, laundry rooms, underground car parks and many commercial installations.
A system like that works out of sight until it stops. Whatever settles in the tank and the shaft will eventually block the float switch and the impeller. Cleaning it regularly is considerably cheaper than the breakdown.
What we do
- Empty and jet out the tank and the pump sump
- Remove deposits, grease and fibrous material that block the impeller
- Free the float switch and check that it moves properly
- Jet through the pressure pipe and the anti-flooding loop
- Clean and check the shaft, the cover and the inlet
- Test run: the system starts, pumps and switches off again
Quick help by problem
You know what has stopped working but not what it is called? These pages take you straight to what to do.
Worth knowing
What brings a lifting station to a halt
Almost always things that do not belong in waste water: wet wipes, sanitary products, cleaning cloths. They do not break down, they wrap themselves around the impeller until the motor cuts out.
Then there is grease. It cools inside the tank, settles on the walls and binds everything that arrives after it. In restaurants and commercial kitchens that is the most common cause.
Why the float switch shows up first
The float switch reports the fill level. If grease builds up on it or it jams in deposits, the pump starts too late or not at all. The tank overflows even though the pump itself is fine.
That is why it gets freed and moved at every cleaning. It takes a minute and prevents the most expensive part of the damage.
Anti-flooding loop and non-return valve
The pressure pipe is routed above the flood level so that nothing runs back when the sewer is full. The non-return valve keeps what has been pumped up where it is.
If that valve jams open, the waste water runs back into the tank and the pump moves the same water over and over. You can hear it, and it costs the pump its service life.
How often it is needed
In residential buildings an annual service is usual, in commercial premises and catering more often. What makes sense in your case depends on what actually accumulates.
After the first job we tell you what we found and what interval follows from it. Anything said before that would be guesswork.
How a job runs
Isolate the power
Before anyone reaches into the tank, the system is switched off and secured against being switched back on. That is not a formality, there is an impeller down in the sump.
Empty and clean
The contents are vacuumed out, tank and shaft are jetted at high pressure. Grease and fibrous material wrapped around the impeller are removed mechanically.
Check and run
The float switch and the non-return valve are checked for free movement, then the system runs through one full cycle. Only then are we finished.
Frequently asked questions
The pump is running but nothing drains away. Why?
Usually a blocked impeller or a clogged pressure pipe. The pump turns but moves nothing. Switch it off and call us: letting it run costs you the motor.
The alarm on the system is going off. What should I do?
Stop putting water in, so no washing machine, shower or toilet in the affected area, and call us. The alarm is telling you the tank is not emptying.
There is a smell in the basement. Is that the lifting station?
Often yes. If deposits build up in the tank or the vent is blocked, it smells. After a thorough cleaning that is usually gone.
Do you also clean pump sumps and shafts without a lifting station?
Yes. Pump sumps, soakaways, inspection chambers and sand traps are the same work with the same equipment.
Do you come out at night?
Yes, that is what our emergency service is for. Call +49 8821 3101.
Need help now? Just call.
Available around the clock, on weekends and public holidays too. We tell you on the phone when we will arrive.
Or send an email: info@kanal-gap.de
Inquiry about Lifting stations and pumps
For fast help, calling us is the most reliable option. For anything that is not urgent, you can also reach us using this form.
Related services
Service area
We work within a radius of around 80 kilometres around Garmisch-Partenkirchen, from Mittenwald past Murnau and Weilheim to Starnberg.
See our service area