A diaphragm pump is used in more specialised situations and not as common as the sewer cutter pumps and mains water pressure pumps found in domestic applications. The diaphragm pump which can also be referred to as a membrane pump is a positive displacement style of pump and uses the reciprocating action of a rubber, thermoplastic or teflon material diaphragm and suitable valves (check valve, butterfly valves or any other form of shut off valve) on the other side to transfer many different types of fluids for all types of circumstances.
In a suburb called Stirling in the Adelaide Hills we recently assisted a client of ours with repairs/servicing on there diaphragm pump. The pump which was originally supplied by a local pump company in Tonsley called Global Pumps.
This diaphragm pump is dedicated to removing liquids from a sump which is installed below the people lift on the lower ground floor. The pump is designed to work in the event of the lifts motor well ever taking on water and protecting the expensive equipment located down there which operates the lift from water damage. Due to the nature of the set up this pump is located at ground level away from the lift well itself mounted on a wall in a non-trafficable location for easy servicing and repairs.
Inside the sump below the lift are two float switches. One is used to activate the pump when water fills up the sump (normal operation). The other is connected to a high-level alarm which sounds if the pump is not draining the sump and alerts the occupiers of this office building of a fault and a qualified pump technician should be contacted urgently to assess the fault and repair the pump.
Inside the sump is a 25mm suction line which retrieves the water from the sump once activated by the float and the water is then discharged to a nearby creek at Pomona Road and eventually makes its way through to Snows Road in Stirling. Given that this pump will rarely work if ever it is vital to ensure that half yearly servicing is performed on this equipment so that if ever the need for it to work our clients know that the pump is set up to perform its duty of protecting the lifts motors and various other controls.
At Mayfair Plumbing we are a preferred pump service agent for many manufacturers across South Australia. Known for our large team of skilled technicians which are trained in all types of pump repairs and installations. We work in some of the states remote areas and can accommodate our clients with emergency pump repairs all days and all hours.