Are You Practicing Being SepticSmart?

SepticSmart week kicks off today!

Are you practicing SepticSmart behaviors at home?

Follow us on Facebook as we pass along educational content and maintenance tips each day!

Your Source for Septic Air Pumps

In many onsite treatment systems, septic air pumps are the only moving part in the overall septic system, so it must be dependable. Working 24 hours a day and through all four seasons of the year — HIBLOW linear air pumps set the industry standard for reliability and service life. Contact us to learn more!

Be SepticSmart and HIBLOW Wise: Help the Environment and Your Wallet

Be SepticSmart

Millions of American homes are not connected to municipal wastewater treatment plants and require onsite septic systems to clean their wastewater.  Treatment options, usually dictated by local regulations, include conventional gravity septic systems and alternative systems such as aerobic treatment units, drip, mound, and recirculating sand or media filters.  Regardless of the type, the SepticSmart content is valuable to any homeowner and will help increase the longevity of their system.  Check out this link for a plethora of helpful information from the EPA: SepticSmart week

Septic air pumps are the heart of aerobic treatment units (ATU’s).  The oxygen diffused into the tanks (s) feed beneficial aerobic bacteria that multiply and help break down the waste.  In addition to cleaner water exiting the system, the oxygenated and aerobic rich effluent extends the life of the drain field as it prevents the formation of biomat—which can clog the pores in your soil and cause failure.  Maintaining the air pump is essential to the performance and longevity of your system.

Be HIBLOW Wise:  Tips for extending the life of your HIBLOW air pump and aerobic system

1. Check the air filter every 6 months. A dirty or clogged filter can reduce the performance of the air pump and reduce its service life.  Often you can clean it after 6 months before replacing it after 1 year.  Watch our rebuild kit videos for a tutorial on how to access the filter.  Note the skip-to link below the video.https://www.hiblow-usa.com/support/
   
   
2. Fix it, don’t pitch it! There are few moving parts in HIBLOW’s linear diaphragm air pump design.  Inevitably after years of continuous use, the diaphragms will rupture, and the valves will wear.   HIBLOW sells a rebuild kit for a fraction of the cost of a new air pump.  Don’t toss it in a landfill - fix it in 20 minutes with a few basic tools to save money and help the environment!  Check out our rebuild videos: https://www.hiblow-usa.com/support/
   
   
3. Install authentic rebuild kits. Beware of cheap Chinese knock-off kits that are prevalent on Amazon and eBay.  The components are not to specification, and the materials are inferior.  The knock-off kits typically fail quickly, can reduce the air flow that the system requires to be effective, and can ruin the inside of the pump.  Check out the following article for more information: https://www.hiblow-usa.com/2022/04/25/beware-of-knock-off-hiblow-repair-kits/

Read the full list of tips to maintain your septic air pump on our website!

Follow us on Facebook as we pass along educational content and maintenance tips each day!

Your Source for Septic Air Pumps

In many onsite treatment systems, septic air pumps are the only moving part in the overall septic system, so it must be dependable. Working 24 hours a day and through all four seasons of the year — HIBLOW linear air pumps set the industry standard for reliability and service life. Contact us to learn more!

Look for the HIBLOW Logo on Your HP-100/120 Diaphragms!

The same Chinese company that has been building knock-off HP-60/80 rebuild kits also manufactures a knock-off HP-100/120 kit. Do not fall victim to their army of deceptive sellers on Amazon, eBay, Alibaba, and Walmart. The kits may appear similar, but they are not built to spec, and the components are made from inferior materials. Their diaphragms can be very noisy and may fail within weeks, if not days. Often when they do fail, the safety mechanism isn’t tripped, and the rod tears up the inside of the air pump rendering the pump unusable.

To help authentic kits stand out, HIBLOW HP-100/120 diaphragms now have the HIBLOW logo engrained on the center plate as shown below. The diaphragms are included in both the full rebuild kit (PN: 120PC20012P) and the diaphragm only kit (PN: 120PD20011P).

 Read more here! 

It is inevitable that at some point in time your HIBLOW linear air pump will stop running. Most often that means that the diaphragms have ruptured, which activates the safety mechanism cutting power to the pump. This ensures that the magnetic rod does not tear up the inside of the pump – making it irreparable.

One of the advantages of choosing HIBLOW is that the pump can be rebuilt 2 times at a fraction of the cost of a brand-new pump. You may notice that there are different rebuild kit options on the market, most notably buying a full rebuild kit or the diaphragms only kit. It is HIBLOW’s strong recommendation to buy the full rebuild kit.

How to Start Planning for DIY Pond Aeration

Want to DIY your own pond?

Looking for the right type of diffuser and other equipment? 

We've got the info you need in our complete DIY pond aeration guide.

Choosing the Installation Location

If you are installing a solar system, then your aerator will likely be located right next to the pond.

If you are utilizing AC electricity, then there are a couple of options:

Running electrical power to the water’s edge:  We have heard of many folks hiring electricians and running power to the water; however, it can be very expensive considering the labor involved and the wire gauge needed to run long distances.

The most common (and recommended) location is near your electrical power source.  It is typically more cost effective to run tubing from your power source to the water’s edge – even hundreds of feet.

Choosing the best HIBLOW model:

Reference your notes on the size and depth of your pond and check out our article regarding choosing the best model and size air pump for your application.  https://www.hiblow-usa.com/2021/04/12/what-size-air-pump-should-i-use-to-aerate-my-pond/

Tubing Type and Size:

If you are planning on installing the aerator at the electrical source, it is most cost effective to buy PVC pipe, reinforced poly, or irrigation tubing and run that to the edge of the water.  If burying the tubing, make sure it can handle the weight of the earth or it may pinch which will reduce or eliminate air flow and put excess pressure on the pump causing it to fail prematurely.

Choosing the right diameter tubing is essential.  Generally, the longer the pipe distance, the larger the diameter of the tubing needs to be to reduce friction loss and limit back pressure.  Also, the more air flow (bigger the pump), the larger the diameter of the tubing needs to be.

Once to the water’s edge, weighted line is most often used, but not required.  Some folks choose to save money by running rigid PVC or flexible poly into the pond.  Of course, this requires bricks or cement blocks to weigh it down.

For detailed information on selecting the best tubing for your pond, please check out the following article: https://www.hiblow-usa.com/2020/06/16/what-size-and-type-of-tubing-should-i-use-with-my-pond-air-pump/

Diffuser Quantity and Type:

The diffuser sits at the bottom of the pond and produces microbubbles that rise to the surface.  HIBLOW typically suggests a medium bubble diffuser that produces sufficient air bubbles for oxygen transfer but also enough power to mix the pond.

Medium bubble diffusers put minimal backpressure on the air pump and “self-clean”.  However, fine bubble diffusers are sometimes the best choice if you have a shallow pond or are trying to grow certain breeds of fish.

The quantity of diffusers depends on your pond size and shape.  For instance, if you have a round pond that is 1/8th of an acre, you may need only 1 diffuser to turnover the pond.  If you have a kidney shape ½ acre pond, you may need 3 diffusers.  Most systems utilize at least 2 diffusers.

For help selecting the best type of diffuser for your pond, check out the following article:  https://www.hiblow-usa.com/2021/05/03/pond-aeration-system-diffuser-options/

We Can Help with DIY Pond Aeration!

Overwhelmed by the options and process for DIY pond aeration? We’re happy to help. If you have any questions during the process, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Happy DIYing!

DIY Pond Aeration: A Complete Guide

With careful planning and diligence, setting up an aeration system is manageable and can save you a significant amount of money if you do it yourself. Below is a step-by-step guide for installing an aeration system.

Planning for Installation

Determine Your Goal:

What are you trying to get out of your aeration system? Are you trying to reduce algae and other organic matter and improve water clarity?  Are you trying to increase the fish population?  If yes, what type of fish are you trying to grow?  Do they need a specific temperature to thrive?  Are you trying to prevent fish kill in the winter?  This information is important as we work through the set-up.

Power Source:

Choosing your power source impacts the balance of the installation.  Utilizing AC electricity is the easiest and often most cost-effective solution, certainly in the short-term.  However, sometimes electrical power is too far away.  In that instance, solar or wind power can be very effective, but the installation process becomes more complex, and the up-front cost is significantly more.  If solar is of interest, check out our article on DIY solar aeration: https://www.hiblow-usa.com/2021/06/07/diy-solar-pond-aeration/

Pond Size and Depth:

The size and depth of the pond is essential to understand before proceeding as it impacts which size and type of aerator you need, the diameter of the tubing, and the type of the diffuser.  Take careful measurements and note the shape of your pond.

Choosing Aeration Technology:

The 3 most common aeration technologies for homeowners are: fountains, rocking pistons, and linear diaphragm air pumps.

Fountains are visually appealing and provide some aeration to the pond, however they are considered surface aerators only pulling water from the top couple of feet.  They are often used in addition to subsurface aeration. They require a significant amount of energy, so are not typically powered by solar or wind.

Linear diaphragm air pumps and rocking pistons provide subsurface (bottom diffused) aeration.  Subsurface aeration adds dissolved oxygen to the pond, but most importantly, mixes the oxygen rich surface water throughout the water column.  The oxygen starved water at the bottom of the pond is cycled to the surface where it releases toxic anoxic gas into the atmosphere while absorbing oxygen.

Read the entire guide to DIY pond aeration on our website!

We Can Help with DIY Pond Aeration!

Overwhelmed by the options and process for DIY pond aeration? We’re happy to help. If you have any questions during the process, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Happy DIYing!

Linear Diaphragm Air Pump Heat Test – Enclosures and Stand Alone

HIBLOW USA did a heat test, measuring the temperature of 3 different enclosure types and a HIBLOW air pump in the shade and in direct sunlight.

Testing Conditions:

• Temperature was measured at the top and bottom of the enclosure every 30 minutes between 10:30 AM and 2:30PM
• The temperature at 10:30 was 83F (real feel: 94F) and 86F (real feel: 97F) at 2:30.
• Location: Saline, MI.

Temperature Rankings: Coolest to Hottest

#1 – A: No enclosure in the shade. This comes as no surprise because the pump is getting the best of both worlds – it’s out of the sun and has 100% open air flow. Often, people put the pump on the north side of the house, under a tree, in a shed, in a garage, under a deck, or in a crawlspace, etc.

#2 – B.  Enclosure with 2 open ends. Many ATU companies have gone to a similar design with two open ends.  It provides good air flow while keeping the aerator in the shade. We think this is a quality set-up.

#3 – C. No enclosure directly in the sun. The fact that this option measured slightly higher than the first two proves that air flow is likely the most important factor when trying to keep the pump cool.

#4 – D. Fake rock without vents. We understand that folks like the look of the fake rock, but it comes with a price. Your diaphragms will likely rupture much faster than they would with proper ventilation.

#5 – Tuff Tite top without vents. Unfortunately, HIBLOW aerators are often installed under Tuff Tite riser tops which are in the ground above the septic tank. In addition to the risk of water flooding the pump and damage from toxic sewer gases, the aerator “bakes” inside. As seen above, the riser measures 20 °F hotter than the pump by itself in the shade, in Michigan. In hotter states such as Texas and Louisiana, the temperature difference is amplified.

Read more on our website!

If you want to extend the life of your aerator and save some money, find a way to maximize air circulation and keep the pump shaded.

If you have any questions regarding enclosures or your HIBLOW linear diaphragm air pump, please give us a call.  We would be happy to make some suggestions on how to improve your set-up.

Should My Septic Air Pump Be Covered?

For the past 20+ years, linear diaphragm air pumps have been the heart of most residential aerobic septic systems – also referred to as aerobic treatment units (ATU’s).  However, that was not always the case.  For years, rotary vane compressors were the most common and the technology required an enclosure to keep the pump protected from the elements. As a result, enclosures (seen below) were installed and became the standard.

Linear Diaphragm Technology – Outdoor UL

HIBLOW aerators and other linear diaphragm pumps in the industry are rated outdoor UL, meaning they can stand alone without an enclosure, regardless of the weather. A HIBLOW aerator has an aluminum housing that in essence isthe enclosure.  However, much of the industry still uses the same enclosures designed for the rotary vane with the belief that it’s required.  While some enclosures can be beneficial, others can be detrimental to the life of the aerator.

Heat is the Enemy

HIBLOW’s diaphragms are made from EPDM rubber. The hotter the environment, the faster the diaphragms will wear and rupture. Other rubber materials such as the base and filter gaskets will wear quicker in the heat as well. You can’t control the temperature at your location, but you can put the pump in the best position to be successful. Keeping the aerator out of direct sunlight and allowing sufficient air circulation is the best way to extend the life of your pump.

Read more on our website!

The Bottom Line

If you want to extend the life of your aerator and save some money, find a way to maximize air circulation and keep the pump shaded.

If you have any questions regarding enclosures or your HIBLOW linear diaphragm air pump, please give us a call.  We would be happy to make some suggestions on how to improve your set-up.