From extensions to garden offices, macerators and automatic lifting stations make it possible to handle wastewater where gravity drainage won’t reach. Adam Ferneyhough, Country Director UK for DAB Pumps, highlights why fast-fit features and easy maintenance are key to choosing the right system for the job.
When traditional gravity drainage isn’t possible, automatic lifting stations offer a reliable solution for moving wastewater to where it needs to go. They are popular in extensions or loft conversions where routing conventional pipework is impractical and are particularly useful for retrofits, property upgrades and extensions, giving developers and installers the flexibility to deliver functional, compliant spaces in tight or unconventional layouts.
Whether it’s a basement bathroom, a toilet in a garden office or a utility area on the wrong side of the soil stack, these compact units make it possible to add sanitaryware in previously off-limit locations – without the upheaval of major pipework rerouting.
While automatic lifting stations solve a practical problem, not all designs are created equal. When choosing a unit for a new installation or retrofit, installers should of course look for compact dimensions that suit tight or awkward spaces, along with quiet, reliable performance and features like anti-odour protection for added user comfort. But the best systems should be intuitive to install, quick to set up and easy to maintain.
The installation process starts at the point an automatic lifting station is selected. The Genix range has three models that meet a wide variety of needs. The Genix and Genix WL are suitable for toilets, showers, washbasins or bidets, while the Genix VT has been designed specifically for grey water use, such as with sinks, washing machines or dishwashers. All three offer quiet, dependable performance for situations where gravity drainage isn’t available.
Maintenance
Let’s be honest – no one wants to deal with a macerator that’s blocked. But even with the best will in the world, it happens. Wipes, sanitary products, even kids’ toys – they all find their way in. What matters is how the system lets you deal with it.
With the Genix range each unit features a removable motor block that can be accessed in-situ, with no need to disconnect the discharge pipework. You release the block, lift it out, clear the fault or rinse it through and put it back in. No pipe cutting or pulling the unit off the wall and no fighting with awkward angles under a basin.
This approach also makes it easier to access other key internals. Whether it’s the capacitor, PCB, pressure switch or the grinding blades, every major component is accessible without full disassembly. That’s less time on the job and less chance of something going wrong in the process.
Time-saving
Additionally, because you don’t need to cut into pipework or shift the unit, there’s no need to isolate and drain down the system unless it’s absolutely necessary. That saves a significant chunk of time and avoids turning a 30-minute call-out into a two-hour clean-up. Even little things make a difference: integrated non-return valves reduce backflow when you open the unit. Quick couplings help minimise mess.
Units arrive with everything in the box: hose clamps, pipe adaptors, fixings and a quick-start guide. But it’s the thought that’s gone into future servicing that really pays off. If customers call because something’s gone wrong, you want to be in, out and on to the next job.
From compact sizing and full accessory kits to maintenance you can carry out without disruption, Genix is designed to be as stress-free as possible.
