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Floating Degreaser v. Biologicals to Maintain Your Lift Stations
Monday, January 8, 2024
drain care
Floating Degreaser v. Biologicals to Maintain Your Lift Stations
The fats, oils, and greases (“FOGs”) that build up in an unmaintained lift station cause it to be a messy, smelly piece of equipment. Much worse than the smell, however, is the potential that masses of FOGs will cause the lift station to malfunction and overflow. To prevent an overflow and improve the scent of your lift station, you can add a wastewater maintenance product.
You may be confused by the vast number of wastewater maintenance products on the market. These products fall into two categories: floating degreasers and biologicals. At State Chemical, we formulate, manufacture, and sell 10 floating degreasers and biologicals. One of our floating degreasers, Orange Buoy, has been on the market for over 25 years.
This article will explain the difference between floating degreasers and biologicals for use in internal lift stations. Internal lift stations are found in large buildings, such as apartments, offices, and schools. The solutions for municipal lift stations are distinct from those listed here.
Floating Degreasers Immediately Improve the Smell of Lift Stations
Floating degreasers received their name because they float on the water in a lift station. A floating degreaser improves a lift station in two ways:
(1) The degreaser sticks to the sides of the lift station, preventing new FOGs from building up.
(2) The degreaser creates a barrier that stops the malodors in the lift station from wafting up.
The floating degreaser begins to work immediately. When you first pour a floating degreaser into a lift station, you will be immediately rewarded with the replacement of foul odors with the pleasant scent of the product. Your nose will thank you!
However, floating degreasers do not break down FOGs that have clogged a lift station. A floating degreaser is not for you if you already have a clog. Instead, use floating degreasers to improve the smell of a lift station and as preventative maintenance to stop FOGs from sticking to the side of a lift station.
Biological Products Remove Fats, Oils, and Greases that Have Clogged a Lift Station
Biological products are made of bacteria and/or enzymes. The bacteria and enzymes break down and then digest the FOGs in a lift station. In other words, the bacteria eat the FOGs that cause a lift station to clog. Biologicals are often preferred over floating degreasers because the bacteria in the biologicals are more effective at breaking down FOGs than the orange oil, citrus oil, floating solvents, and/or soy in the floating degreaser.
If you use a biological product, you will see full results in 30-90 days. Instead of seeing a mass of FOGs at the top of the lift station, you will see water with small pieces of FOGs floating in it.
However, biological products can be affected by a lift station’s temperature and pH level. Most biological products are only effective in specific temperature and pH ranges. For example, State Chemical’s product Ecolution® Drain Line Maintainer can only be used if the temperature of the lift station is 45-120°F (5-50°C) and the pH is 4.0-11.0. The bacteria die at extreme temperatures and pHs.
When choosing a biological product, you should pay attention to whether the product contains an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help wastewater maintainers work by liquifying the lift station’s FOGs. A product containing bacteria and an emulsifier can be incredibly effective because the emulsifier liquifies the FOGs while the bacteria eat them.
However, some local governments restrict the use of emulsifiers. Emulsifiers work by liquifying FOGs. The limitation of this solution is that the liquified FOGs can re-solidify. Some governments limit the use of emulsifiers because the FOGs are liquified long enough to exit the lift station but can re-solidify in the city sewer system. The re-solidified FOGs can clog the city sewer. To learn if your local government limits the use of emulsifiers, contact the Department of Public Utilities in your city.
Floating Degreasers and Biologicals Can Solve Problems With Your Lift Station
Choosing a product to maintain a lift station can be overwhelming. It is often clear that you want relief from the FOGs that cause lift stations to smell, clog, and overflow, but how to find that relief is confusing.
Two types of products can be used to treat lift stations: floating degreasers and biologicals. A floating degreaser is suitable for you if you want immediate relief from the smell of your lift station. A biological is ideal for you if you want more relief from the FOGs in the lift station - the bacteria in a biological are better at breaking down FOGs than the orange oil, citrus oil, and/or soy in the floating degreaser.
Now that you understand the difference between biologicals and floating degreasers, you likely want to pick out a product. The factors involved in choosing a floating degreaser include your price point, the scent you prefer, and the strength of the floating degreaser you are looking for. The factors involved in choosing a biological include whether the product contains an emulsifier and your price point.
Floating degreasers and biologicals can both help with your lift station problems. Both will provide relief. We recommend a floating degreaser if smell is your biggest concern and a biological to break down FOGs more effectively.
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