FAQ - Frequently asked questions

Basically not. As with any "normal" drain, it is important that the collection chamber is cleaned regularly. No deposits are to be expected in the hydraulic area due to the flow.

No, the Plancofix is a floor drain pump for pumping graywater from a domestic ground-level shower if it cannot be drained by gravity. However, it must not be used for backwater protection, as it does not meet the requirements of DIN EN 12050-2. Furthermore, it should be noted that a draining bathtub, for example, would bring too large a volume of water.

In order to secure a shower or a Plancofix below the backflow level against backflow, the Plancofix would first have to pump into a lifting unit according to DIN EN 12050-2 (for example Hebefix Plus), which in turn would then transport the water above the backflow level with a backflow loop.

The electrical installation of bathrooms is described in VDE 0100 Part 701. In it, the bathroom is divided into areas 0 to 3, in which different regulations apply. Depending on the design, the shower and bathtub are classified as wet zones in areas 0 and 1, which require special protection, but only apply above the floor. Protection zone 0 only begins at the floor surface, which is why the Plancofix also has the corresponding VDE approval! Electrical safety must ultimately be implemented on site by a specialist via the RCD circuit breaker.

The Plancofix is designed in such a way that all components can be replaced separately if necessary. This applies to the motor, the hydraulics and all other elements. Only the removal of the tank is a not inconsiderable effort. However, it should also remain in the floor for many years after installation.

No, the cable connection can be separated from the engine compartment. Note: Connection for cable empty tube is present and should also be used. Thus, even a replacement of the line would be possible, but is usually never necessary!

No, because the metallic materials, such as the switching shaft, are not sufficiently resistant. The application is clearly described in the operating instructions. Please note!

It must always be ensured that there is sufficient water pressure on the non-return flap installed in the Plancofix floor drain pump to ensure proper closing of the flap and to minimize noise development. In addition, the pressure line must be extended from the high point to avoid a so-called suction lift.

The difference lies in the size of the impurities in the liquid. Dirty water can contain impurities up to 5 cm in size. This is usually water that also contains soap, suds, water from washbasins, etc. Larger admixtures are referred to as wastewater.

Our pumps are designed for waste water and sewage. We have not tested the pumps with other liquids and therefore cannot say whether they are chemically compatible with your liquids to be pumped. Do not pump anything flammable with our pumps under any circumstances!

In the past, the addition NIRO always stood for "non-rusting" motor shell on our U3 K submersible pumps. This addition was chosen in 1978 for the revised U3 K to emphasize this new product feature. In terms of design, the pump has always been adapted over the years and a non-rusting motor shell has been established as a normal product feature. For this reason, the addition was dropped more than 10 years ago. Instead of the U3 K Niro, please order a U3 K (pump without automatic switching) or U3 KS (pump with automatic switching).

Please note that several variants of the U3 submersible pump with product designation are named on the nameplate. The U3 K submersible pump without float switch. The U3 KS submersible pump with float switch. The number after the slash is the design code number, and helps us to select the correct spare parts for your product.

No, not as a rule. The suds from household washing machines are cooled down before being pumped out and then additionally mix with the cooler residual water in the pump sump or collection tank. This is also the reason for our note in the operating instructions that the pumped medium may have a maximum temperature of 35° C to enable continuous operation of the pump.

Most clear water pumps are designed for clear, clean water. Foreign objects can clog the inlet, preventing the pump from receiving water. If they enter the pump, foreign objects can damage the impeller, shaft seal, and other internal parts. A pump selection must be made depending on the size of the foreign matter.

The selection of the right size and performance of the ideal wastewater pump is based on the delivery head and the flow rate of the medium to be pumped. For each pump there are so-called characteristic curves from which the performance data can be read.

Installation of a dirty water pump should always be carried out by professionally qualified personnel and is usually a simple matter of a few minutes. What is needed is a pipe wrench, screwdriver and - for permanent installations - a hacksaw. Complete and easy-to-read installation instructions are provided with the pump. When replacing your dirty water pump, we always recommend a new check valve as well. You can also get many tips in the form of videos and animations in our YouTube company channel.

The short answer to this is "normally yes". According to DIN EN 12050, the non-return valve is a component of every lifting station, i.e. a mandatory component according to the technical regulations. It is installed in the pressure pipe connected to your sewage pump. When the pump is running, the water is forced out through the valve. When the pump shuts off, gravity pulls the water in the discharge pipe back into the collection tank. The check valve prevents this from happening. This prevents the pump from having to pump out the water that has already been pumped out again. In the long term, this prolongs the service life of the pump and saves you electricity costs. However, the non-return valve is not an approved backwater protection device.

The use of a so-called dual system is mandatory wherever wastewater pumping must not be interrupted (e.g. in the catering industry). These pumps then always run in alternating operation. In contrast, owning a spare or secondary pump is like having insurance for your car or house. It is only needed if the installed pump fails. The purchase of a spare pump depends on local conditions.

Yes, all dirty water pumps can be used for pumping out suds.

You should have a sump large enough that you can use a pump with a mechanical float switch. This will allow a reasonable amount of water to accumulate before the pump needs to run. The longer inactive time between pump cycles allows the pump to cool down better between those cycles. The specific minimum sizes of the required collection tank are listed in the respective product data sheet.

Yes, almost all wastewater pumps on the market have a thermal fuse. This is triggered when the motor becomes too hot due to dry running or blockage and switches on again automatically after cooling down. The quality of this thermostat therefore determines the longevity of the pump. All our domestic products have a VDE mark and must meet the requirements of the household appliance standard for permanently installed, permanently connected products. For example, a U3K submersible pump must still function if it has been continuously blocked for 18 days when switched on.

For safety reasons, extension cables must not be used.

Some pumps can be supplied with a longer cable. For some of our pumps we also offer longer connection cables. For more information, please contact our sales field service or office staff.

No, dirty water pumps are not suitable for these requirements.

No. Pumps are designed to move water. If you block the flow of a pump (as a hand shower does), the pump is automatically shut off by the thermostat.

By "admixtures" we do not mean objects such as screws or stones. We mean things that normally occur in sewers or are disposed of with domestic wastewater. Most sewage pumps have a plastic impeller that can be damaged by very hard objects.

No. The technical difference is that the "cutting wheel pump" has an upstream cutting system that is combined with a free-flow impeller inside the pump. It can break up the impurities in the wastewater. Conventional wastewater pumps do not do this. Pumps "suitable for admixtures" convey the admixtures almost unchanged, without crushing them. They are characterized by a correspondingly large free passage.

No. When a sewage pump is in use, feminine hygiene items must not be flushed. These items can be problematic for sewage pumps and cause blockages and clogs throughout the sewage system.

That's almost impossible to answer. It's like asking how long your car will last without continuous inspection. It just depends too much on how often and under what other conditions (duty point, media, etc. ) the pump runs. If you have a small sump and there are several people in your household, the pump will need to run much more often than someone with a larger sump. Depending on the number of operating hours run, as well as care and maintenance, will result in the life of the pump.

No. Wastewater pumps are not suitable for these applications.

No, better not. The WCfix 260 / WCfix plus is a sewage lifting unit for limited use. The installation and use options are regulated in DIN EN 12050-3. According to this, the WC must be connected directly to the lifting unit.

The longer the inlet pipe, the more air is introduced into the WCfix. This air may only be able to escape very slowly from the tank ventilation. This results in excessive back pressure in the tank, which causes the pressure switch to switch on earlier. The consequence is that the pump then starts too early. Since the WCfix switches off time-dependently, the pump may switch off when there are still solids in the tank. Over time, this causes the lifting unit to clog and eventually fail.

Experience shows that this effect can be avoided by aerating the inlet pipe. However, we cannot guarantee this.

The installation of compli lifting units in shafts outside the building is hardly feasible in accordance with DIN.

As a rule, the following requirements of DIN EN 12056-4 cannot be met: The working space of at least 60 cm next to and above all parts of the system to be operated and maintained. Maintenance and repairs of a shaft-mounted container lifting system are hardly feasible in this environment. In addition, the following points can hardly be implemented: The installation of a gate valve on the inlet side. The routing of the pressure line with the bottom of the backflow loop (frost-free!) above the so-called backflow level. The installation of the control system in a dry and well ventilated room. The routing of the ventilation pipe over the roof.

Finally, the system must also fit through the manhole opening. For manholes outside the house, submersible pumps or pumping stations are therefore usually used.

No, our sewage lifting units are resistant to wastewater with a salt content of up to 1 % and within the pH value range of 6 - 12. The regeneration water from water softeners is usually around 10 %, the condensate from gas condensing boilers in the pH value range of 2.8 - 4.9.

For this application, we therefore recommend our waste water lifting unit Hebefix extra in addition to the Compli unit. This is resistant up to a salt content of max. 10 %, which is usually sufficient for "small to medium" softening plants. In case of doubt, please contact the manufacturer of the softening plant.

A pipe or hose with the diameter of the pump's discharge port (or larger) is best. Using a reducer, thinner hose or tube will reduce the pumping capacity. If the reducer is too large, the pump may even be damaged. If the pump was delivered with a garden hose adapter, it is designed for use with a garden hose. Please note that garden hoses are available with different diameters and lengths. Use a garden hose that is as thick and short as possible. This will allow the pump to perform at its best. For installation as a sewage lifting unit according to DIN EN 12050, only approved materials for pressure piping should ever be used. DIN 1986-4 provides an overview of this.

Never use a discharge pipe whose diameter is smaller than the discharge connection of the pump. Pipes must never be tapered in the direction of flow. If you are pumping over a long distance, you may even need to use a larger diameter pipe. Be careful with this, however, as the flow velocity may be too low with pipes of too large a diameter. This can cause impurities to settle in the pipe. Over time, the resulting sludge will cause a blockage in the pipe. The minimum flow velocity of wastewater and other liquids with admixtures is 0.7 meters per second. If you are planning a drainage system for your home, consult your plumber for advice.

In pipes with too large a diameter, the flow velocity may be too low. This can cause the admixtures to settle in the pipe. Over time, the resulting sludge causes a blockage in the pipe. The minimum flow rate of wastewater and other liquids with admixtures is 0.7 meters per second. If you are planning a drainage system for your home, consult your plumber for advice.

If your discharge pipe freezes or is otherwise clogged, the water cannot be delivered while the pump is running. The pump will still start if the float switch is floated. If it cannot discharge the water through the discharge pipe or hose as intended, it will run continuously. This eventually leads to the pump overheating and being switched off by the internal thermal overload protection. If the problem is not detected in time, your basement may flood. For this reason, a separate alarm system is useful.

No, we (and others) recommend that you install the check valve vertically (from top to bottom) so that the valve inside sits horizontally. When the pump shuts off, the check valve closes securely due to the water column acting from above.

We attach a nameplate with pump number, the CE mark and some technical data to all wastewater, sewage and clear water pumps. The first two digits of the pump number indicate the year of manufacture.

Spare parts can be obtained directly from us. Call us at +49 5204 17-17 or send an e-mail to ersatzteil.jp@pentair.com.

Deviating from the legal regulations, our warranty is basically 2 years for both private and commercial customers! And not two years after our date of sale, but for your safety 2 years from installation of the pump system! If you have concluded a maintenance contract of the type "Standard Plus" or "Top" with us for your pumping system, a warranty of 5 years after conclusion of the contract applies. Please note, however, that in particular wear-related damage or damage due to incorrect installation, use or operation are not to be considered as warranty damage.