The importance of venting floor mounted waste water pumping systems.

When designing or installing a commercial kitchen venting the floor mounted waste water pumping system may not be the first thing that is taken into consideration. However, understanding the importance of venting for the effective operation of the pump, as well dispersing odours from the tank, is a critical factor for reliability in these situations.

As wastewater drains from a sink or appliance the air inside the tank must be released to allow the flow of water into it. If the tank is not vented correctly wastewater will be noticeably slower to drain away from sinks and appliances. Odours and gurgling noises from equipment and sinks will also occur. In these situations, the likelihood is that the pumping system is not properly vented. ?

As the pump operates air needs to be drawn back into the tank so that a partial vacuum is not created. If this is allowed to happen the discharge flow of the pump will be reduced adversely affecting its efficiency.

For these reasons all pump tanks need to be fitted with a suitable vent to allow them to breathe in and out. Ideally this should be routed to atmosphere external to the building. ?

In cases where the vent outlet can only be sited within the building, a filter must be used to minimise any potential odours escaping from the pump collecting tank.

Two filters are available from Aldermaston based waste water pumping system specialists Pump Technology Ltd, the smaller CharcoVent and the larger MicroVent. Both contain an activated carbon filter ideal for removing odours.

The smaller CharcoVent, which is an easy to replace disposable cartridge, should be used on systems that are typically sink only. Its vent pipe should be 1 1/4”.

The larger MicroVent, which features a replaceable cartridge, should be used on systems that have multiple wastewater inlets, or with appliances such as dishwashers. ?Its vent pipe should be 2” to allow the greater airflow.

Vents should be positioned as far above the collecting tank as practical. This improves the life of the filter and its effectiveness and facilitates easy removal of the lid for cleaning and servicing. It also ensures that, when pumping hot wastewater, any potential condensation will not adversely affect the activated carbon.?

The specialist team at Pump Technology Ltd are always happy to talk with any potential customers who are designing or installing a waste water pumping system and offer help and advice.