Frequently Asked Questions
Q. "What is gray water?"
A. At its most basic definition, graywater (sometimes noted as greywater, grey water, or gray water) is the used water that goes down your home drains, with the exception of toilet water. This includes wastewater generated by laundry, dishwashing, hand washing, bathing and other washing. While this may be the dictionary definition of graywater, for the purposes of recycling graywater, some plumbing codes define gray water as only water discharged from lavatories, bathtubs, showers, clothes washers, and laundry trays and specifically exclude wastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers from their definition of gray water. Once water has been through a toilet, water closet, urinal, or in any way comes in contact with human waste, it is always considered sewage or black water. We recommend confirming with your local code authorities if you are unsure if your application works within code definition of gray water.
Q. "Does this laundry sink pump need to be vented?"
A. Per the manufacturer's installation instructions, this unit does need to be vented and has been designed with a vent connection on the top of the pump to allow for connection to a two-way air venting system. The manufacturer recommends using 1-1/2" PVC or ABS pipe, which is easily available in most localities, but as always, consult with a trusted local professional and your code authorities to confirm your installation meets all code requirements for your area.
Q. "Can I cut off the plug from the end of the Little Giant RS-5LL remote switch that's used on the smaller Drainosaurs so that I can hardwire it into my system?"
A. In a word, no. Not only would that void the manufacturer's warranty, removal of the plug from the RS-5LL switch (which is used on the WRS-5, WRS-6 and WRS-C6 systems) will not allow the switch to function properly (if at all). Pressure from rising water pushes against a diaphragm inside the RS-5LL switch, turning off the switch. For the diaphragm to move, the air above the membrane must be expelled; to allow this air to escape, a small vent tube runs from the top of the switch and along the cord, exiting at the plug. If the plug is removed and the switch is hardwired, the air tube would essentially be "plugged off"; the air from the area above the diaphragm membrane could not vent, which means water pressure would be unable to move the membrane to close the switch.
