HALLAM, PA — As the owner and founder of Spring Road Plumbing & Septic Repairs, Joel Siegrist knows that basement plumbing projects can quickly become more complicated when wastewater has to be pumped upward to a main sewage line. Siegrist is a licensed and bonded Master Plumber, and Spring Road has been serving York, PA, and surrounding areas for more than 18 years.

On a recent five-bedroom home remodel, Siegrist needed to install a new basement bathroom with a toilet, vanity and shower. The project required a grinder pump, but Siegrist wanted to avoid the labor and service challenges associated with conventional systems. His small team and the fast pace of his installation work made a simpler solution particularly valuable.

“With other grinder pumps on the market,” he explains, “you have to set the pump and floats at the right height, which is very time-consuming.”

Float-Free Controls Simplify Grinder Pump Installation

Siegrist found an alternative after visiting his local plumbing supply house, where a sales representative introduced him to the SFA Saniflo Sanipit 24 GR CB Grinder Pump system.

He was initially hesitant to try the system, but previous positive experiences with SFA Saniflo above-floor plumbing products and the representative’s explanation of the Sanipit’s capabilities convinced him to move forward.

One of the system’s key advantages for Siegrist was its fail-proof air pressure switch system with triple redundancy. The design eliminates the floats used in conventional sewage pump systems, removing a component that can complicate installation and create potential service issues.

“The Sanipit has pressure switches, so there’s no messing with floats,” Siegrist comments. “The control panels are all pretty straightforward as far as installation and service go.”

Three Fixtures Served From a Single Basement System

For the remodel, the Sanipit 24 GR CB handles wastewater from three fixtures: a toilet, vanity and shower.

The system is vented through a dedicated exterior line, while the discharge piping runs more than 8 feet vertically before extending another 10 feet horizontally.

Siegrist began by preparing the installation area and creating a concrete opening for the system. He then moved the preassembled basin and grinder unit into place before connecting the discharge and vent piping, completing the wiring to the external control panel and testing the system.

The entire installation took approximately five hours, which Siegrist said was significantly less time than a conventional grinder pump installation.

The system’s simple plumbing connections and intuitive control interface helped keep the installation straightforward and reduced the amount of labor required.

Quieter Operation Adds Value in Residential Applications

Installation time was not the only advantage Siegrist noticed. He also appreciated the Sanipit 24 GR CB’s quieter operation compared with traditional grinder systems.

That difference can be particularly important in residential applications, where equipment noise can affect homeowner satisfaction.

The external control panel also provides visual and audible alarms, giving the system an additional layer of monitoring and alerting users to potential issues.

For Siegrist, those features were important from a service perspective. “Being on the service side, I’ve seen how messy and time-consuming grinder pump systems in basements can get,” he says. “After working with the Sanipit, I’d be comfortable using it again in a future job. It’s a lot easier to service.”

Installation Performance Leads to Additional Projects

The initial installation has continued to perform without service issues or callbacks, according to Siegrist.

Since completing the basement bathroom remodel, he has installed three additional Sanipit units on other projects and reports positive results with each installation. Siegrist said the SFA Saniflo system stood out for its installation simplicity and long-term reliability.

“Time is money,” he emphasizes. “I’m a small business. Timing is everything.”

Simpler Grinder Pump Design Helps Small Contractors Work More Efficiently

For Spring Road Plumbing & Septic Repairs, the Sanipit 24 GR CB has provided a way to approach below-grade residential plumbing with less installation complexity and easier service access.

“In my eyes, there’s no comparison with any other product,” he says.

For contractors handling basement bathrooms and other below-grade drainage applications, the project demonstrates how equipment designed around simpler installation and service can help reduce labor while providing reliable wastewater management.