Sewage Pumps Archives - Mawdsleys Pump Services

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Submersible Pump Maintenance: How Often Should You Service Each Type?

Advice Dirty Water Pumping Systems Flood Pumps Sewage Pumps Submersible Pumps Well Pumps

Every submersible pump must be serviced at least once a year. Pumps operating in harsh, high-demand, or critical environments — sewage, mining, dewatering, and industrial process applications — require more frequent submersible pump service, with quarterly or biannual checks as the minimum. It also depends on good housekeeping; if rags and fat often enter the sump, additional tinkering and servicing are required to avoid costly breakdowns. A pump that is never serviced is not a pump that is saving money. It is a pump that is accumulating for a future emergency.

Why Submersible Pump Maintenance Cannot Be Optional

A submersible pump operates in one of the most demanding environments of any mechanical equipment: fully submerged, often handling solids, abrasives, or chemicals, running continuously or cycling frequently, and — critically — out of sight. Unlike a surface-mounted machine, a submersible pump gives no visual warning when something is going wrong. By the time the failure becomes apparent, the damage is already done.

The submersible pumps market was valued at £274.74 million in the UK for 2025, reflecting the scale of dependency on these systems across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors(Grand View Horizon 2025). That dependency makes unplanned failure not just an inconvenience — it is a financial and operational event.

The case for regular submersible pump maintenance rests on three pillars: asset lifespan, energy efficiency, and — most critically — the prevention of costly unplanned downtime. Each is examined below.

The Financial Case for Regular Pump Maintenance

1. Extending Asset Lifespan

A well-maintained, high-quality submersible pump typically lasts 10 to 15 years. Some properly maintained systems exceed 20 years of service (Rafsun 2025). A neglected pump — one that never receives a professional pump service — will often fail within 5 years, sometimes far sooner in aggressive environments.

The arithmetic is straightforward. A commercial submersible sewage pump with a purchase and installation cost of £3,000–£8,000 that fails at year 5 due to lack of maintenance has an effective annual cost of £600–£1,600. The same pump, properly maintained for 15 years, delivers an effective annual cost of £200–£533 — a saving of 60–67% on the capital investment alone, before emergency labour costs are considered (Rafsun 2025).

Worn impellers reduce pump efficiency progressively over time. As the impeller degrades, energy consumption rises to maintain the same output — meaning an unmaintained pump is also an increasingly expensive pump to run, even before it fails.

2. Preventing Unplanned Downtime

The financial consequences of unplanned downtime in industrial and commercial settings are severe and well-documented:

A 2023 survey by ABB, conducted across 3,215 plant maintenance decision-makers globally, found that unplanned outages cost the typical industrial business approximately £92,000 per hour (ABB 2023).
The MaintainX 2024 State of Industrial Maintenance Report found that in 2024, the average cost of one hour of unplanned downtime hovers at around £20,000, rising to over £370,000 per hour for larger organisations (MaintainX 2024) .
According to IDS-INDATA over 80% of industrial businesses experienced unplanned downtime in the last three years, with each incident lasting an average of four hours(IDS Indata 2025). UK manufacturers alone are estimated to lose around 49 hours per company per year to machine failures.
Pumps & Systems confirmed in a 2024 study that 82% of companies experienced at least one unplanned downtime incident in the previous three years — most suffered two or more (Pumps & Systems 2025).

Even outside heavy industry, the consequences of pump failure are significant. A failed sewage pump in a hotel or block of flats triggers immediate health, safety, and regulatory obligations. A failed dewatering pump on a construction site can flood an excavation within hours, causing structural damage and delays costing tens of thousands of pounds.

The British Pump Manufacturers Association (BPMA) has long maintained that over the lifetime of a pump system, 85% of total costs are attributable to energy, 10% to maintenance, and just 5% to initial purchase price (BPMA 2022). Skipping the 10% maintenance spend does not eliminate costs — it transfers them to the 85% energy budget (through inefficiency) and creates emergency repair and downtime costs that dwarf the maintenance investment avoided.

3. Maintaining Energy Efficiency

A submersible pump with worn components — particularly a degraded impeller or a failing mechanical seal — works harder to deliver the same output, drawing more current and consuming more electricity. Atlantic Pumps notes that the cost of maintenance must be weighed against the cost of pump failure and also against the daily energy costs of running worn equipment: pumps operating at peak condition are significantly more cost-effective to run than those with heavily worn parts (Atlantic Pumps 2023).

In an era of elevated UK commercial energy tariffs, this is not a minor consideration. A pump consuming 10–15% more electricity than its rated efficiency due to worn internals represents a quantifiable, ongoing cost that a planned pump service would eliminate.

What a Professional Submersible Pump Service Includes

A professional submersible pump service is not simply a visual inspection. At Mawdsleys Pump Services, our engineers work through a detailed service checklist on every visit (Mawdsleys Pump Services — Maintenance & Repair), covering:

Visual inspection — casing, cable entry, discharge pipework, and ancillary components for signs of corrosion, physical damage, or leakage
Mechanical seal inspection — oil chamber sampling on oil-filled motors to check for milky oil indicating water ingress; seal face condition assessment
Impeller check — inspection for wear, erosion, clogging, or cavitation damage
Electrical testing — motor insulation resistance (megohmmeter test), current draw on each phase compared to baseline, and cable integrity checks
Float switch or level sensor testing — operation at set points, freedom of movement, and freedom from debris interference
Discharge and non-return valve check — valve seating, debris, and correct operation
Vibration and noise assessment — listening and measuring for bearing wear, impeller imbalance, or cavitation indicators
Control panel review — fault history, overload settings, duty/standby rotation, and alarm test
Performance test — flow rate and head readings compared against the commissioning baseline to identify efficiency degradation
Full written service report — with photographic evidence, findings, and recommended actions

How Often Should Each Type of Submersible Pump Be Serviced?

Service frequency is not one-size-fits-all. It is determined by pump type, operating environment, fluid handled, duty cycle, and criticality of the application. The table below sets out the recommended submersible pump maintenance intervals for each major pump type.

Pump Type	Typical Application	Operating Conditions	Recommended Service Interval	Key Maintenance Priorities
Submersible Sewage Pump	Hotels, blocks of flats, commercial buildings, municipal lift stations	Continuous duty; handles solids and organic matter; high cycle frequency	Every 6 months (biannual); critical installations quarterly	Impeller/grinder condition, seal integrity, non-return valve, float switch, cable
Submersible Drainage / Sump Pump	Basements, cellars, car parks, plant rooms, commercial buildings	Intermittent; clean to mildly contaminated water	Annually (minimum); test biannually	Float switch, discharge pipe, check valve, battery backup test
Submersible Borehole / Well Pump	Water supply, irrigation, groundwater abstraction	Continuous or on-demand; deep installation; often hard or mineralised water	Annually (minimum); water quality check every 6 months	Motor insulation, impeller wear, rising main integrity, pressure switch
Submersible Dewatering Pump	Construction sites, mining, tunnelling, flood response	Intermittent to continuous; abrasive, solids-laden fluid; harsh environment	Before and after each deployment; every 3 months on permanent installations	Impeller wear, seal condition, intake screen, cable and connector integrity
Submersible Slurry Pump	Mining, dredging, quarrying, industrial sludge	Continuous; highly abrasive fluid; high wear rate on components	Every 3 months (quarterly); wear parts inspection monthly	Wear plate and impeller thickness, seal condition, agitator, discharge pipe erosion
Submersible Sewage Grinder Pump	Low-pressure sewer systems, below-drain-level basements	Continuous; solid waste including fibrous material; high mechanical stress	Every 6 months; grinder blade inspection quarterly	Grinder blade sharpness, seal integrity, motor current draw, non-return valve
Submersible Stormwater Pump	Surface water drainage, flood risk management, highway drainage	Seasonal or event-driven; can sit idle for months then run continuously	Pre-season inspection (annually minimum); test run quarterly	Float/sensor operation, impeller debris clearance, discharge condition, electrical test
Submersible Process Pump (Industrial)	Chemical processing, food and beverage, oil and gas	Continuous; potentially corrosive, viscous, or high-temperature fluids	Every 3–6 months depending on fluid aggressiveness	Seal material compatibility, motor insulation, impeller and casing corrosion, flow performance

Notes on the table:

“Annually” means a full professional pump service including disassembly, inspection, and performance test — not a visual check.
“Test biannually” means a functional test (run the pump, verify activation, check discharge) without full disassembly.
Manufacturer service requirements must always be observed as a minimum. Where a manufacturer specifies more frequent service intervals than those above, the manufacturer’s schedule takes precedence.
Pumps operating in duty/standby pairs must have standby units exercised regularly — typically monthly — to prevent stagnation and ensure readiness.

The Cost of Reactive vs. Planned Pump Maintenance

The industry term for waiting until a pump fails before servicing it is “run-to-failure” — or reactive maintenance. Despite the evidence against it, MaintainX’s 2024 report found that 57% of facilities still rely on some form of run-to-failure maintenance(MaintainX 2024).

The cost difference between reactive and planned pump maintenance is stark:

Emergency callout labour typically commands a premium of 50–100% over standard planned visit rates, particularly for out-of-hours attendance.
Emergency parts — sourced urgently rather than from stock — carry significant surcharges and can involve lead times that extend downtime by days.
Consequential damage — a failed mechanical seal that goes undetected floods the motor; a clogged impeller that causes overheating burns out the windings. What would have been a £200 seal replacement becomes a £2,000–£5,000 motor rewind or full pump replacement.
Downtime costs — the operational cost of downtime consistently dwarfs the cost of the maintenance that would have prevented it.

65% of companies now use a computerised maintenance management system (CMMS) to manage maintenance activities, reflecting a clear industry shift toward planned, proactive pump service regimes (MaintainX 2024).

How Mawdsleys Pump Services Can Help

At Mawdsleys Pump Services, we specialise in submersible pumps across every application — sewage, borehole, well, stormwater, and industrial process. Our submersible pump service contracts are structured around your specific pump type, operating conditions, and criticality requirements — not a generic annual-visit template.

Submersible Pump Maintenance Contracts — We offer annual, biannual, and quarterly pump maintenance contracts with agreed response times for emergency callouts outside scheduled visits. Every service visit produces a full written report with photographic evidence, giving you documented proof of compliance and a clear record of your asset’s condition.

24/7 Emergency Submersible Pump Repair — When a pump fails outside scheduled maintenance, our engineers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We carry common wear parts — mechanical seals, impellers, float switches, and bearings — for all major brands to maximise first-visit resolution.

Our Google Reviews reflect what our customers tell us consistently: rapid attendance, precise communication, and work completed right the first time.

How often should a submersible pump be serviced?

At minimum, every submersible pump must receive a full professional submersible pump service once per year. Pumps handling sewage, abrasive slurry, or operating in continuous-duty industrial environments typically require biannual or quarterly service. The correct interval depends on the pump type, fluid handled, and duty cycle and housekeeping— the table in this article provides type-specific guidance.

What happens if I don't service my submersible pump?

An unserviced pump will degrade progressively. Wear on the impeller reduces efficiency and increases energy consumption. Mechanical seal deterioration eventually allows water ingress into the motor. Debris accumulation on the float switch causes unreliable activation. Left unaddressed, these issues compound into motor failure — converting what would have been a routine pump service cost into a full pump replacement and, potentially, significant damage to the property the pump was protecting.

What is the lifespan of a submersible pump?

A properly maintained, high-quality submersible pump typically lasts 10 to 15 years, with some exceeding 20 years in optimal conditions. Without maintenance, 5 years or less is a realistic expectation in demanding applications. The difference is a direct result of planned submersible pump maintenance.

Is a pump service contract worth the cost?

Yes, in almost every commercial or industrial application. A planned pump maintenance contract fixes your service costs at a predictable annual figure, eliminates emergency premium callout charges, extends asset life, and protects against the consequential costs of downtime. For any pump that is critical to building operations — sewage, drainage, water supply — a service contract is not a discretionary spend; it is risk management.

Can I carry out submersible pump maintenance myself?

Basic checks — listening for unusual noise, monitoring current draw, verifying float switch operation — can be carried out by a trained operator. However, a full submersible pump service requires a megohmmeter for motor insulation testing, specialist knowledge to interpret oil chamber samples for seal condition, and calibrated equipment to compare flow and pressure performance against baseline. It must be carried out by a qualified engineer.

How do I know if my submersible pump needs servicing now, outside of a scheduled visit?

Warning signs requiring immediate pump service assessment include: reduced flow or pressure at the discharge point; unusual grinding, rattling, or humming during operation; increased current draw noted on the control panel; tripped overloads or repeated faults on the control panel; water around the pump housing or wet well; and activation delays or continuous running that deviates from the normal cycle. Any one of these signals warrants prompt attention — do not wait for the scheduled service date.

Do standby pumps in a duty/standby installation still need servicing?

Yes. A standby pump that sits idle but is never tested or serviced is a pump that will fail the moment it is needed. Standby units must be exercised — run under load — at least monthly to prevent bearing stagnation and verify operational readiness. They require the same annual full submersible pump service as duty units.

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References

Grand View Horizon, 2025, UK Electric Submersible Pump Market Size & Outlook, https://www.grandviewresearch.com/horizon/outlook/electric-submersible-pump-market/uk

Rafsun, 2025, How many years does a submersible pump last?, https://www.rafsun.com/how-many-years-does-a-submersible-pump-last/,

ABB, 2023, ABB survey reveals unplanned downtime costs $125,000 per hour, https://new.abb.com/news/detail/107660/abb-survey-reveals-unplanned-downtime-costs-125-000-per-hour

MaintainX 2024, The State of Industrial Maintenance 2024, https://software.getmaintainx.com/hubfs/State%20of%20Industrial%20Maintenance%202024/2024%20State%20of%20Industrial%20Maintenance%20Report.pdf

IDS Indata, 2025, The Real Cost of Downtime in Manufacturing: Sector-by-Sector Breakdown and 2025 Forecasting, https://idsindata.co.uk/manufacturing-downtime-costs-and-forecasting/

Pumps & Systems, 2025, Preventative & Predictive Maintenance Reduces Unplanned Downtime, https://www.pumpsandsystems.com/article/preventative-predictive-maintenance-reduces-unplanned-downtime/

BPMA, 2022, Optimising pump systems to save electrical energy, https://www.bpma.org.uk/news-article/638888250dba6/Optimising-pump-systems-to-save-electrical-energy

Atlantic Pumps, 2023, Your Essential Guide to Submersible Pump Maintenance, https://atlanticpumps.co.uk/blogs/submersible-pump-maintenance/

An image of two of our engineers lifting a sump pump of a sewer

8 Common Problems with Sewage Pumps and How to Fix Them

Sewage Pumps

Sewage pumps are critical to wastewater management in almost every type of premises — from private homes to large commercial and industrial sites. When they develop a fault, the consequences range from inconvenient to seriously disruptive: backed-up toilets, overflow risk and costly downtime.

This guide covers the 8 most common sewage pump problems, what typically causes them, and what you should do — including when the situation calls for professional sewage pump repair, a maintenance visit or a review of your current servicing arrangement.

If you need urgent help, call our team now on 0117 954 8030. We operate 24/7, 365 days a year.

1. The Sewage Pump Won’t Start

A sewage pump that fails to start is one of the most common call-outs we attend. Causes include:

Power supply failure or tripped circuit breaker
Faulty control panel or sensor
Motor failure
Debris or a blockage jamming the impeller
Pump seized after a prolonged period without use

What to do: Check the power supply and control panel first. If there’s no obvious electrical fault, do not attempt to free a jammed impeller manually — contact a pump engineer. An experienced technician will carry out a full diagnostic inspection and carry out the sewage pump repair on-site where possible, or arrange a swap-out to minimise downtime.

2. The Sewage Pump Won’t Turn Off

A pump running continuously is often caused by a stuck or failed float switch, or a blockage preventing the water level from dropping. A tell-tale sign is an unexplained spike in electricity bills.

Running a sewage pump dry — without water to cool the motor — will damage the seals and ultimately destroy the pump entirely.

What to do: If the pump is non-critical, isolate it by cutting the power. Then arrange an inspection with an engineer as soon as possible. Float switch replacement is a straightforward sewage pump repair, but left unattended, the fault will cause far more expensive damage.

3. Toilets Are Backing Up

Toilet backups linked to a sewage pump are usually caused by a blockage within the pump, a fault at the sewage treatment plant, or a septic tank that needs emptying.

What to do: Stop using toilets, taps and drains immediately — every flush adds more wastewater to an already overloaded system. Contact a pump engineer urgently. This is not a fault that resolves itself, and continued use will escalate the problem quickly.

4. Leaking from the Pump or Pipework

Leaks are typically caused by cracked pipework, a failed non-return valve, or a perished seal. A failed non-return valve allows sewage to recirculate back into the sump — the pump then has to work harder to keep up, increasing both energy consumption and wear.

What to do: Carry out a visual inspection to locate the source of the leak. If you can identify the failing component, you may be able to order a replacement part and describe the fault clearly when you call. If you cannot identify the leak, contact a pump engineer immediately.

⚠️ Leaks from a sewage pump are a serious emergency. Raw sewage leakage poses a health risk and can cause significant structural damage. Call us now on 0117 954 8030 for fast 24/7 support.

Regular sewage pump maintenance will catch seal and valve deterioration before it becomes a leak — this is one of the most common faults our engineers identify during scheduled service visits.

5. The High-Level Alarm Is Sounding

High-level alarms are designed to trigger when water in the pump chamber rises to a critical level — usually because the pump has failed or is running below capacity.

What to do: Do not silence the alarm and carry on. Switch off the pump, stop using water on the premises, and contact an engineer for emergency assistance. Ignoring a high-level alarm risks sewage overflow.

6. Loud Noises from the Pump (Vibrations, Banging)

Unusual sounds are often caused by loose or improperly secured pipes vibrating under pressure, a malfunctioning check valve causing water hammer, or an impeller that has come loose within the pump casing.

What to do: Carry out a visual check of the pipework fixings and pump housing. If the noise is coming from inside the pump body, do not attempt to access it — arrange an inspection with an engineer who can assess the impeller and valve and carry out the appropriate sewage pump repair.

7. Pump Burnout

Burnout is one of the most costly outcomes of a neglected sewage pump system. Common causes include:

Using the wrong pump for the application (wrong flow rate or head pressure)
Heavy usage surges exceeding the pump’s capacity
A failed float switch causing the pump to run dry
Incorrect overload settings on the control panel
A partial blockage making the motor draw excessive current

What to do: If you have experienced burnout, the pump will need to be replaced or fully overhauled. More importantly, the root cause needs to be identified — otherwise the replacement pump will suffer the same fate. Speak to one of our engineers about a pump suitability review. Correct sizing, correct installation, and a planned sewage pump servicing schedule are the most effective ways to prevent burnout from recurring.

8. Bad Smells Coming from the Pump

Persistent foul odours usually point to one of three causes: a failed or perished seal on the chamber lid, a cracked vent pipe allowing gases to escape, or stagnant water in a low-usage system where sewage is sitting rather than being regularly moved.

What to do: Have an engineer inspect the pump, chamber lid and vent pipework. In the case of stagnant water, the issue may be resolved by adjusting run times or reviewing the pump sizing. Regular sewage pump maintenance — including checks of seals and vent pipes — will catch this type of deterioration early.

How Planned Sewage Pump Servicing Prevents Most of These Faults

The majority of the faults above share something in common: they don’t appear without warning. Float switches degrade gradually. Seals perish over time. Valves wear. Blockages build up. In almost every case, a planned sewage pump servicing visit would have caught the early signs before they developed into a breakdown.

At Mawdsleys, our sewage pump maintenance visits include:

Visual inspection of the pump, chamber and all pipework
Float switch and level control testing
Non-return valve condition check
Motor insulation and current draw testing
Wet well cleaning and de-ragging
Written condition report with any recommendations

For clients on a servicing contract, we also provide priority response times and discounted call-out rates when emergencies do occur.

If your sewage pump has never been serviced, or your last service visit was more than 12 months ago, it’s worth getting in touch. A single maintenance visit costs a fraction of an emergency repair — and far less than a pump replacement.

Find Out About Our Servicing Contracts →

How Working from Home Could Be Impacting Your Pumps

Advice Booster Pumps Sewage Pumps

One of the biggest impacts on people’s daily routines because of COVID-19 is the increased amount of time they are spending at home, with many continuing to work remotely where they can to adhere to lockdown rules.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal that in April 2020, when the first lockdown was announced, 46.6% of Britain’s workforce did some work at home.

The shift to remote working has posed many challenges, with businesses and staff needing to adapt quickly to ensure staff can work efficiently from home whilst retaining a work/life balance.

A victim of remote working that has perhaps been overlooked is pumps. These systems that we rely on every day keep water pressure high and facilities such as toilets working properly, but with increased usage; these essential systems can run less efficiently and are at a higher risk of failure.

Find out more about the types of pumps that have been impacted by working from home and how building owners can ensure users always get a high level of performance from their pumps in our latest blog post.

The Dangers of Septic Tanks and Cesspits

Advice Dirty Water Pumping Systems Sewage Pumps

If your home or business is out in the countryside or otherwise ‘off the grid’, you may use an alternative sewage treatment method such as a septic tank or cesspit/cesspool.

As well as upcoming changes to legislation making sewage treatment plants the only approved method of waste treatment, septic tanks and cesspools pose a number of risks and can damage the environment around them.

Find out more about the hidden dangers of septic tanks and cesspits and why you should upgrade to a full sewage treatment plant in our latest blog post.

What’s the Difference Between a Septic Tank and a Cesspit?

Contrary to popular belief, a cesspit and a septic tank are two different things – the fundamental difference is that within a cesspit, sewage is simply stored, the cesspit is then emptied by a professional when it is full.

On the other hand, within a septic tank, sewage is stored and partially broken down before being discharged, whilst safer than raw sewage, this discharge is still considered to cause damage to the environment.

The General Binding Rules 2020

The General Binding Rules were first released in 2015 and come into force in 2020. If you have a septic tank that discharges into a body of water such as a stream, you’ll need to upgrade to a sewage treatment plant before 2020.

Additionally, if your current set up is found to be negatively impacting its surrounding environment, or if you are looking to sell your property, you will be required to upgrade sooner.

Dangerous Gases

Due to the nature of what is stored within them, both cesspits and septic tanks contain gases that are potentially harmful to health. Whilst there is no risk when they are sealed in the tank, there are several dangers they hold including:

Rupture of the tank – This can be caused by tree roots and building works and will result in harmful gases being released in the vicinity of the septic tank or cesspit.
Lid collapse – Septic tanks generally have a concrete lid to keep them secure. Over time, the gases can eat away at the lid, causing it to become weaker and increasing the risk of collapse.
Fires – The gases produced by cesspits are extremely flammable, a naked flame should never be anywhere near a cesspit.

Flooding

Flooding of a septic tank can be caused by several circumstances including heavy rain, flooding, blocked pipes, damage to internal components and saturated soil preventing discharge.

If your septic tank is flooding, you will need to reduce or completely restrict the amount of water that is used to avoid contracting an illness and making the problem worse, you find raw sewage backing up into your sinks and toilets.

Additionally, you will need to contact a professional to inspect and service the tank, failure to do so can leave you liable to legal action should the flooding cause a health or pollution risk.

Flooding can cause a lot of damge to your property or the facilities which you manage!

In an emergency call us on 0117 954 8030

Pollution

As cesspits are sealed, they generally only cause damage to the environment around them if they are damaged. However, as septic tanks discharge into bodies of water, they can cause serious damage to the environment, killing wildlife and contaminating private water supplies.

In addition to sewage, a septic tank or cesspit will contain anything that is flushed down the toilet or poured down the sink, this often includes chemical cleaning products, kitchen oils, detergent and human waste.

Inspection Costs

The final danger of cesspits and septic tanks is the amount they will cost you! In addition to installation costs, you will need to pay for regular emptying, inspection and servicing of your cesspit or septic tank in order to prevent it from posing a risk.

Furthermore, if your property currently relies on a septic tank or cesspit, you will have trouble selling it, as the new owners will have to take into consideration all the costs associated with maintaining it and the inevitable cost of upgrading to a sewage treatment plant.

Nationwide Sewage Treatment Plant Installation, Repair and Maintenance

If your property currently handles sewage through a septic tank or cesspit, you will need to upgrade it before 2020. At Mawdsleys Pumps, we provide a nationwide service for the installation, repair and maintenance of sewage treatment plants; we’ll even remove and dispose of the old unit for you.

For more information, give one of our expert team a call today on 0117 954 8030

If your home or business is out in the countryside or otherwise ‘off the grid’, you may use an alternative sewage treatment method such as a septic tank or cesspit/cesspool.

Find out more about the hidden dangers of septic tanks and cesspits and why you should upgrade to a full sewage treatment plant in our latest blog post.

What’s the Difference Between a Septic Tank and a Cesspit?

The General Binding Rules 2020

Additionally, if your current set up is found to be negatively impacting its surrounding environment, or if you are looking to sell your property, you will be required to upgrade sooner.

Dangerous Gases

Rupture of the tank – This can be caused by tree roots and building works and will result in harmful gases being released in the vicinity of the septic tank or cesspit.
Lid collapse – Septic tanks generally have a concrete lid to keep them secure. Over time, the gases can eat away at the lid, causing it to become weaker and increasing the risk of collapse.
Fires – The gases produced by cesspits are extremely flammable, a naked flame should never be anywhere near a cesspit.

Flooding

Flooding of a septic tank can be caused by several circumstances including heavy rain, flooding, blocked pipes, damage to internal components and saturated soil preventing discharge.

Additionally, you will need to contact a professional to inspect and service the tank, failure to do so can leave you liable to legal action should the flooding cause a health or pollution risk.

Flooding can cause a lot of damge to your property or the facilities which you manage!

In an emergency, call us on
0117 954 8030

Pollution

Inspection Costs

Nationwide Sewage Treatment Plant Installation, Repair and Maintenance

For more information, give one of our expert team a call today on 0117 954 8030

Back To School – Are Your Pumps Ready for the New Term?

Advice Booster Pumps Sectors Sewage Pumps

With summer coming to an end, the new term is looming for schools and other educational establishments across the country.

In these environments, proper maintenance of pumps and associated equipment is essential, but stretched budgets, no maintenance plans and lack of knowledge can often result in schools dealing with unexpected breakdowns.

In our latest blog post, we’ll run through the risks of failing to maintain pumping equipment in schools, the pumps most commonly found in schools, checks you can carry out and how Mawdsleys can help ensure your pumps stay up and running all year round.

Winter Sewage Pump Maintenance – Avoid Unexpected Breakdown This Winter

Services Sewage Pumps

A sewage pump failure is never convenient — but it’s almost always preventable. Whether you manage a commercial premises, a residential property or a pumping station, planned sewage pump maintenance is the most reliable way to avoid unexpected breakdowns, protect your equipment and control costs.

This guide explains what good sewage pump maintenance involves, the most common faults that a service visit will catch early, and what to do if your pump develops a problem that needs repair. We also cover why winter is the most critical time to have your system checked — and why Mawdsleys is one of the few pump specialists that keeps operating through the Christmas and New Year period.

Need help now? Call 0117 954 8030 — we operate 24/7, 365 days a year.

What Does Sewage Pump Maintenance Visit Include?

A thorough sewage pump maintenance visit goes well beyond a visual once-over. Our engineers carry out a structured inspection that covers every component likely to cause a failure, including:

Float switch and level controls — the most common cause of pump faults. Tested for correct operation and adjusted or replaced as needed.
Non-return valve condition — a failed valve causes sewage to recirculate within the sump, increasing motor load and wear.
Motor insulation and current draw — an early indicator of winding deterioration before full motor failure occurs.
Pipework and chamber integrity — checking for cracks, perished seals and corrosion that could lead to leaks.
Wet well cleaning and de-ragging — removing rag, debris and silt buildup that impairs pump performance.
Control panel and alarm testing — verifying that high-level alarms and auto-start functions are operating correctly.
Written condition report — a record of findings, any work carried out, and recommendations for the next visit.

Each visit gives you a clear picture of your pump’s condition and flags any developing issues before they become expensive problems.

Common Sewage Pump Problems That Maintenance Prevents

The following faults are among the most frequent reasons we’re called out for emergency sewage pump repair. In most cases, a scheduled maintenance visit would have identified the warning signs first:

Pump not starting. Caused by float faults, a jammed impeller, blocked electrics or motor failure. Our engineers test starting performance on every visit and can spot a weakening motor before it fails completely.

Pump running continuously Usually, a float switch is stuck in the on position, or a blockage prevents the sump level from dropping. Left unattended, the pump runs dry and destroys its seals — turning a simple adjustment into a full sewage pump repair.

Toilets are backing up. Often a downstream blockage or a pump is already working at reduced capacity. Routine maintenance checks flow rates and identifies partial blockages before they cause a full backup.

Leaking pipework or failed non-return valves. Seal and valve degradation is gradual and easy to catch on a maintenance visit. Once a seal fails and sewage begins to leak, it becomes an urgent emergency with potential health and compliance implications.

High-level alarm activating indicates the pump is failing to keep pace with inflow. Maintenance visits test alarm function and verify the pump is handling its design load — preventing the conditions that trigger high-level events.

Bad odours caused by perished chamber lid seals or vent pipe damage. Identified and resolved during a routine service visit before odours became a complaint from building users.

For a deeper look at each of these faults and what causes them, see our guide: 8 Common Problems with Sewage Pumps and How to Fix Them.

Sewage Treatment Plants Undergoing Maintenance

Why Winter Makes Sewage Pump Servicing More Important?

Cold weather puts additional stress on sewage pump systems in several ways:

Freezing temperatures can affect above-ground pipework, vent pipes and any exposed electrical components, particularly on external or partially exposed installations.
Increased usage over the Christmas and New Year period — more people in buildings, hospitality venues running at full capacity — means pumps are working harder precisely when an engineer is hardest to reach.
Holiday shutdowns mean that if a fault develops over Christmas, the impact can go undetected for days, turning a minor fault into significant damage or a sewage overflow.

Arranging a pre-winter sewage pump maintenance visit — ideally in October or November — ensures your system is in the best possible condition before peak demand and cold snaps arrive.

Mawdsleys is one of the few pump specialists that continues operating throughout Christmas and the New Year. Our engineers are available for emergency call-out 24/7, including bank holidays, so if something does go wrong over the festive period, you’re not left waiting.

The Benefits of a Planned Sewage Pump Servicing Contract

For commercial and industrial sites where sewage pumps are business-critical, a servicing contract offers more than just scheduled visits. Our contract clients benefit from:

Priority response times when breakdowns do occur, ahead of non-contract call-outs
Discounted repair rates on parts and labour for any work arising from a service visit
Full service history maintained against each asset — useful for compliance, insurance and handover purposes
Annual condition reporting to support planned budgeting and capital replacement planning
A direct line to a named engineer who knows your site and its equipment

Contracts are tailored to your site and budget — whether you need one visit a year for a single residential pump or quarterly visits across a multi-site estate.

Find out more about our sewage pump servicing contracts →

Why Choose Mawdsleys for Sewage Pump Maintenance and Repair?

30+ years of experience carrying out sewage pump maintenance, repair and servicing across the South West and South Wales
In-house engineers — no subcontracting. Our own team carries out every job, which keeps quality consistent and pricing competitive
Fully equipped workshop in Bristol for pump refurbishment and overhaul when site repair isn’t possible
Confined Space Accredited engineers for work in chambers, wet wells and below-ground installations
24/7 emergency cover, 365 days a year, including Christmas and bank holidays
Trusted by councils and large organisations, including Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Book a Sewage Pump Maintenance Visit or Service Review

Whether you need a one-off maintenance visit, emergency sewage pump repair, or want to talk through a servicing contract for your site, our team is ready to help.

Call us on 0117 954 8030 or fill in the contact form below. We’ll discuss your requirements and recommend the right approach for your pump and your budget.