Homeowner finds long-term solution to overflow problems with heavy-duty, gray water drain pump for lower-level laundry room

Case Study | July 2024

After years of costly failures, homeowner Jim Mitchell finally had enough of a faulty laundry tray pump. He chose a floor-mounted Saniswift gray water pump to reliably evacuate wastewater from a basement laundry room to the main waste line one floor up.

Problem

HOLLY, MICHIGAN — Jim Mitchell, a retired automotive engineer from General Motors, and his wife Mary are adventurous homeowners. The Mitchells enjoy traveling across the country in their recreational vehicle. Yet, no matter the distance traveled, they always find comfort in returning to their Michigan home.

Until recently, this home had a challenging plumbing-drainage situation. Its lower-level laundry room was frequently plagued with overflow issues caused by repeated pump failures. Given the room’s below-ground position on the property, traditional plumbing solutions were not feasible.

“Our home is located with a lot of topography, and the septic field is three to six feet higher than the lower-level floor,” says Mitchell.

The Mitchell home is somewhat usual in that it is constructed entirely from wood. The home’s foundation is exposed on one side, with six-by-six posts embedded in the ground every eight feet. The walls and flooring are made of marine-grade plywood, tar, and visqueen, giving the home a distinctive wooden aesthetic. With such an unconventional “basement,” it’s not surprising that there was no plumbing in the lower level before they moved in.

Still, the Mitchells wanted to situate their laundry room on that lower level. However, they needed to figure out how to pump the wastewater from the new basement facilities to an existing plumbing line on the first floor. Initially, Mitchell used a laundry tray pump, attaching it to the bottom of the laundry tub.

Installed several years ago, the original pump quickly proved faulty, consistently malfunctioning and causing overflow problems. Mitchell routinely had to replace the unit every year, and the replacement cost was considerable. In total, Mitchell went through 6 shellback 1/8HP laundry pumps. After several years of dealing with malfunctioning pump units, Mitchell decided it was time to find a new, more reliable solution that wouldn’t require constant replacement.

Solution

Mitchell’s search for a new product for his laundry room took him to a local hardware store where a close friend worked. The latter recommended that he check out the new pumps the store had just received.

The product that Mitchell was shown was the Saniflo Saniswift Gray Water Drain Pump. He was initially impressed by the installer-friendly, compact design of the pump and the fact that it was floor-mounted. He also found the functional, modern exterior design impressive, something he had not paid attention to in the past.

“The appearance of the pump was an important factor for me because it needs to fit underneath the laundry tub,” explains Mitchell. “While it doesn’t necessarily have to be stylish, I didn’t want just a big black plastic box.”

In the end, Mitchell found the overall design of the Saniswift much more appealing, especially with its motor built into the housing—unlike the previous pump, which had a motor merely attached to the pump.

“I like that the pump motor is integrated into the case. It makes sense,” remarks Mitchell. “The concept of having a casing with an integrated pump was what sold me.”

The Saniswift is installed beneath a 20-gallon laundry tub, into which a washing machine and sink faucet drain. From there, the gray water is pumped 10 feet vertically to a 1.5-inch PVC line that angles horizontally and runs 30 feet to the home’s main waste line on the first level. The unit is vented through an 1.5 inch PVC pipe which runs vertically upwards 18 inches.

Results

The pump successfully installed, Mitchell has been impressed with how he can now be completely hands-off, in stark contrast to the previous, consistently malfunctioning pumps. Mitchell will no longer have to worry about product warranty issues, as Saniflo offers customers a standard four-year warranty for their macerating pump products.

“I’ve got every confidence in the world that the pump will last me a very long time,” he says. “The laundry tub is evacuated instantly with no overflow issues.”

The ease of installation and the efficiency of the unit have not only resolved Mitchell’s immediate overflow issues but have also sparked an interest in optimizing other areas of his home. Aware of the potential for similar Saniflo systems to enhance the functionality and reliability of plumbing elsewhere, particularly in challenging spaces like his downstairs bathroom, Mitchell is enthused about the possibilities.

By leveraging the success of his recent installation, Mitchell is poised to transform his living space, further testament to the significant impact that the right plumbing solutions can have on homeowner satisfaction and lifestyle.

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ABOUT SANIFLO
SFA SANIFLO NORTH AMERICA – whose France-based parent company, SFA Group, originated macerating plumbing technology — offers a complete line of waste and drainage pumping systems for residential, commercial and industrial applications. SFA Saniflo developed its innovative, “above-floor plumbing” technology 65 years ago and has led its commercialization worldwide. Today, the company markets macerating technology through 27 subsidiaries doing business in more than 70 countries and has sold more than eight million units worldwide since 1958. SFA Saniflo markets through independent sales agents throughout North America, and the product line is currently available at distributor and dealer locations throughout the continent.

For more information, contact SFA Saniflo USA at 1-800-571-8191, or visit the website at Saniflo.com. To contact SFA Saniflo Canada, dial 1-800-363-5874, or visit Saniflo.ca.

For editorial assistance, contact Madelyn Young ([email protected]) c/o GreenHouse Digital + PR: 708-428-6385.

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