Saniflo USA | Mini Case Study | Oklahoma Daycare | May 2024

Farmer’s Plumbing Solves Demanding Plumbing Requirements at Daycare Facility with Commercial Above-Floor Lift Pump Station

Problem

MARLOW, OKLAHOMA — In a company of only four employees, Nathan Farmer of Farmer’s Plumbing has gained abundant experience and expertise working on various commercial and residential plumbing projects in his Oklahoma trading area.

One recent job that Farmer completed involved a 10,000-square-foot building used as a daycare. The building owners had leased out one end of the structure, but no plumbing was available. The daycare tenant, therefore, had to add six bathrooms to meet its needs. Four of those bathrooms were promptly placed on the exterior wall using rear discharge toilets, but the two bathrooms for the interior presented a challenge.

Initially, another plumber tried to solve the problem by installing a smaller and less powerful drain pump for the two interior facilities, but it proved unreliable. As the second plumber on the job, Farmer realized that a different type of drainage solution was needed and contacted Saniflo for assistance.

One of the issues the daycare faced was the high usage of these bathrooms by the children and facility staff and their misuse. “Some of the occupants were flushing items such as paper towels and other materials that were not suitable for the existing system, causing clogs and other problems,” explains Farmer, identifying the problem that needed to be addressed.

Realizing that a more reliable solution was required, Farmer recommended a bigger, more rugged pump model to meet the daycare’s demanding requirements.

Solution

Farmer didn’t need additional product research; instead, he relied on his local supplier for their advice and suggestions. Once connected with a regional manufacturer representative, Farmer identified the Saniflo Sanicubic 1 VX heavy-duty duplex Vortex system as the solution.

Farmer readily admits that he was in uncharted territory despite his years of plumbing experience, but he faced the challenge head-on with careful planning and skill. He also received the technical guidance he needed from SFA Saniflo USA since it was his first time installing a Sanicubic unit.

Each of the two bathrooms consists of two toilets and two sinks. Adjacent to the bathrooms is a small storage closet tucked away in the corner of the room. Additionally, a kitchen sink is situated approximately 10 feet from the toilets.

The wastewater from the two bathrooms and the kitchen sink feeds into the vortex pump unit. The unit pumps the wastewater vertically via a pipe located in the attic space. Then, it travels with an ⅛ per ft slope to the main sewer line outside the building, discharging a total horizontal distance of 30 feet. The pumping unit is conveniently located in the small storage closet, a central location that serves all fixtures efficiently.

The plumbing team replaced the original 1.5-inch discharge pipe for the previous pump with a two-inch line to optimize the system’s performance. This upgrade ensures a smooth effluent flow and enhances the system’s functionality.

Once the discharge reaches the attic, gravity takes over and guides the flow towards the exterior wall, a distance of about 45 feet. At that point, the drainage line ties into a four-inch clean-out, conveniently located just outside the building.

Results

The installation process was quick and efficient, taking just one hour, reports Farmer. While removing the previous pump, the positioning of the former discharge line aligned perfectly with the new Vortex unit, saving labor and maximizing system performance.

Since the installation, the system has operated flawlessly, without blockages or operational hiccups caused by flushing inappropriate items. This outstanding performance is a testament to the quality of Farmer’s planning and workmanship.

As he aptly puts it, “No news is good news.”

Product Profile: Sanicubic 1 VX Vortex Lift Station

Product Profile: Sanicubic 1 VX Vortex Lift Station

The Sanicubic 1 VX is a 1.5 HP, heavy-duty Vortex system that pumps wastewater from several bathrooms in a single structure. It can remove waste up to 36 feet vertically through a 2-inch diameter pipe; or up to 20 feet when discharging through a 4-inch pipe.

The Sanicubic 1 VX incorporates a powerful, clog-resistant Vortex pump system, ideal for uncontrolled environments in both residential and commercial applications; i.e. rental units, offices, schools, warehouses, etc. The product is specially designed to handle larger sanitary products that may have been mistakenly or carelessly flushed down the toilet, including condoms, sanitary napkins, q-tips, dental floss, etc., as well as large-diameter solids.