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A submersible pump or sump pump is going to be your best friend on site when the rain comes in. This is also true if a sewage pipe bursts! When you find yourself unable to get on with your work because of fluids blocking your sight and entry, a sump pump can save you. So what is a sump pump? A sump pump is a pump that works when submerged in water. It uses a pushing motion to pump away the water is is submerged in and move it to another location. Sump pumps, whether used in the home or on a construction site can also pump away debris and aggregate. If you’re thinking you’ll never need a submersible pump, think again. Read on to learn a little bit about them, how they work, and why you may want to own one. Why would I use a sump pump? You would use a sump pump when water is causing flooding or is generally in the way of where you are working. Submersible pumps are exactly what they sound like: pumps that operate while being fully submerged in fluids. These fluids can be any mixture of things. Water, sewage, cement debris and even concrete.  Are sump pumps better than normal pumps? Sump pumps are more efficient and powerful than regular pumps. They are submerged in the water, which means rather than spending energy on sucking the water up and away (like a normal pump would), they just need to focus on pumping. This makes sump pumps less complex and more energy efficient. Moreover, they can handle larger bodies of water mixed with debris from the work site.  How Do Submersible Pumps Work? Submersible pumps must be fully submerged in water to work. They push out liquid and sometimes aggregate, depending on the pump, and then pump it elsewhere. The motor, attached to the pump body, and the electrical cables are completely sealed. This ensures water is pumped out easily. Submersible pumps work to push fluids toward the surface, unlike other types of pumps that use a pulling motion. These pumps require heavy-duty cables and are built strong and durable. Because of how they’re made, they’re able to withstand being submerged in sewage or debris-filled water. They can operate deep inside a well. Why do I need a submersible pump? You will need a good sump pump if you are working on a construction site, especially if you are in an area that receives heavy rainfall. No matter how much you sing for it, the rain will come again another day! If sewage is blocking your way, you’ll be glad you had a submersible pump available to help. Pumping that sewage out is a lot easier than grabbing some shovels and removing it that way No matter your worksite, if there’s a chance you’ll ever have water, dirt, gravel, sand, or something similar accumulate in the lower levels, you should have a pump on hand. Submersible pumps are useful for road construction. These projects often cover areas that dip down, creating a holding place for water. They’re excellent for construction projects with basements, where flooding can occur. If a storm or flood rolls in before your basement “pit” has a ceiling, you’ll be grateful you had a submersible pump. Just grab your pump, use it to remove any water and/or sediments that have gotten in your way, then keep on working. Submersible pumps aren’t only versatile, they’re practical. If you think you’ll ever have a need for one, they’re a great purchase to make. Even if you think you may never need one, it’s not a bad idea to have one on hand. You never know when fluids or sediments might interfere with your construction plans. What are the different types of sump pumps?  There are two types of sump pumps: submersible pumps and pedestal pumps. Submersible pumps operate while being totally submerged. Pedestal pumps, however, stay outside of the water. They use pipes to reach the water and pump it out. Both types of sump pumps sit down in a “sump,” or an area where water or other fluids accumulate, and pump it elsewhere. Submersible sump pumps are more efficient, more powerful. They can pump away debris and aggregate more easily than a pedestal pump. How do I choose a sump pump? When choosing a submersible pump, there are are several things you’ll need to take into consideration. Not all submersible pumps are created equal! What can my sump pump do? The amount of water and/or aggregate you’ll be moving, how quickly you need it moved, and how far away you want it to be moved are all things to consider when selecting the right sump pump. Do you need to pump small materials out, as well as water? Make sure you choose a pump that is capable of removing aggregate. Height capabilities should be on your mind as well. This refers to how high your pump can raise water. You’ll want to make sure your pump of choice can get the unwanted water well out of the sump. For example, if you need the pump to get water out of a twenty-five-foot-deep hole, make sure the pump has a head pressure of at least twenty-five. Are diesel or electric sump pumps better?  Pumps can be either electric or diesel-powered. There is no simple answer to which one is better; it is more a question of which one is more appropriate for your worksite. Make sure you know what power options you’ll have available at your worksite. Besides choosing which power source is more suitable for you, ensure the length of the cords and cables of your pump are correct. This is essential. You don’t want to be relying on multiple extension cords.  If you decide to purchase a pump, consider the options available and pick one that most closely meets your needs. To learn more about the submersible pumps we have on offer, fill out our contact form today.

With over $20 billion in construction work being done every month, the industry has never been healthier. If you’re a developer or you’re in the construction industry, you know there can be a rush to build quickly. Unfortunately, this can mean shortcuts are taken. If the shortcut is unsafe, it can have terrible consequences. You should always consider how to safely perform the task at hand, such as cutting through concrete blocks. Safely cutting concrete requires personal protective equipment (PPE) including; safety glasses, hearing protection, and a respirator. It is also good practice to have a wet kit to attach to a hose to minimise airborne dust. Ensure you have a well-maintained saw too.  Any power cutting can be the source of a lot of danger and liability on a construction site. Thus, the safety of yourself and your team is essential. This post highlights several important things to consider in making your worksite, and your cutting, safe. What Type of PPE Should Be Worn When Cutting Concrete Blocks? Eye protection, long garments for protecting arms and legs, and high-quality boots with strong treads are critical pieces of equipment. One of the most essential elements of running a safe workplace is to provide everyone with basic safety equipment. Making sure that your workers are well protected is part of your job description. This applies whether you’re a site manager, supervisor, or contractor. Beyond sturdy boots, you’ll need some additional gear. Long pants and garments to protect your arms are also necessary. There will be a lot of water from the cutting, so boots with weak treads could lead to slips and falls. There will be lots of debris flying into the air, so workers need to be prepared for that. Eye protection is essential when cutting concrete blocks. Safe concrete cutting should entail masks, eye protection, and face shields for anyone in the cutting area. Chips and shards can be thrown up and can injure or even blind you without proper protection. There will also be lots of noise produced by the cut. Be sure everyone has ear protection that’s up to code. How Can I Prevent My Team From Inhaling Concrete Dust? Performing a “wet cut” when possible, and giving your team respiratory equipment are the best ways to avoid inhaling concrete dust during a cut. Any time you’re cutting concrete blocks safely, you should be sure everyone has the respiratory equipment they need. Water will be flowing over the blade to reduce dust, but some dust and smoke will still be produced. Promote lung health and safety by managing dust. Instruct your workers on the risks and perform a wet cut if possible. However, if you must perform a dry cut, you’ll need to provide masks. Anyone within a certain radius needs a respiratory device. How Can I Tell If My Saw Is In Good Condition for Cutting Concrete Blocks? Check the power cord and water pump, and have someone double-check the water tank. These steps will help you confirm whether your saw is in good enough condition to cut. Any time you’re working with masonry tools, you need to ensure they’re in good condition. Handing a dull saw or a damaged tool to an employee is as good as endangering them directly. You’re ensuring they’re giving a tool they might struggle with and end up causing harm to someone with. If you see any damages or signs of wear on the guards or handle, speak up. Put a halt to the cut. How Can I Tell If My Diamond Blade Is Good for Cutting Concrete Blocks? Your blade should be sharp and specifically made for the job. The diamond blade you’re using needs to be suitable for the material you’re cutting. It should be the right size for the machine you’re using. Blades come in different materials and sizes for various purposes. If your blade is vibrating strangely once the saw is powered up, tell everyone to stop. Let everyone take a step back. You need to determine where the problem is coming from before proceeding. Register every use of the blade so that you can be aware of when it needs to be replaced. How Fast Can You Cut Concrete Blocks? You should always be patient and take things slow. Never rush a cut when working with masonry tools. Rushing could cause the cutter to lose control of the saw and damage the work or injure someone. Patience is important as these cuts take time. When you cut patiently, you can avoid the blade overheating. Allow it to cut through the material on its own. The friction and heat it generates will stay constant. With a patient cut, you get a smoother, more accurate, and safer cut in the end. What Standards for Cutting Concrete Blocks Should I Follow? You should follow the norms and standards of your region and local construction office. Regional and legal safety standards are constantly changing. If you’re not aware of the latest norms, you won’t provide a good environment for your workers. You can’t expect workers to abide by safety standards they don’t know about. Before you take on a job like a masonry cut, call down to your local construction office. See what information they have about doing a job like that. Ensure they register your call. If you end up in trouble later for missing some regulation or cutting after hours, you want to defend yourself from fines. How Do I Prepare My Team To Cut Concrete Blocks? To prepare your team for a concrete-cutting job, talk them through the possible risks. Discuss the causes and what safety issues they should watch out for. Communication is probably the biggest difference between teams that work safely and teams that don’t. Sit your team down and explain all of the risks and why they occur. You can prepare your team for what they’re about to do. While a simple masonry cut might not seem like a big deal, it

If you take care of your core drill properly, it will serve you well for years as a long-term investment. If you’re spending money on a core drill, the last thing that you want is poor performance because of a low-quality drill bit. That’s why it’s important to understand how to maintain your core drill bits. Extended use, poor handling, and improper usage of drills can all contribute to a lower lifespan for your bits. It’s important to clarify early on that diamond core bits don’t really get “dull” or “sharp”. Instead, diamond bits can become glazed with use as debris gets into the bit, making them seem blunt and less effective. But, to keep things clear-cut and simple, we’ll be using the terms “dull” and “sharp” throughout this post. Keep your core drill bits sharp (deglazed) and properly aligned for effective performance. To sharpen a bit, increase the weight on it while reducing the water flow. As the cut improves, gradually return the water flow to its original level. Always ensure proper alignment before you start drilling—trying to realign the bit mid-drill can damage the drill or even break the bit. This post outlines a few useful tips on how to maintain your core drill bits, so that your drill can keep its high performance and consistent use. How Do I Maintain My Core Drill Bits? Do not try to realign the drill after you have started the drilling process. If you have begun to drill and you find that your hole is slightly off, be careful when moving forward. While you might want to exert more pressure on one side to account for the mistake, you should absolutely NOT do this because it could lead to severe complications. Pressing to one side while drilling could cause materials to catch. When this happens, interfering with the drill can lead to mechanical complications. Doing this can also cause the bit to break, which is the last thing you want after spending thousands of dollars on a bit. How Can I Tell If My Core Drill Bits Are Dull? You may find it difficult to determine when your bit is dull. You’ll know it needs sharpening when it doesn’t cut as quickly as it used to. That seems intuitive, but oftentimes we think that there’s a mechanical issue when the bit is actually just dull. To avoid going out to buy an entirely new drill, find a qualified professional to look at your bit. Or, if you’re confident in your own abilities, it’s also possible to sharpen your bit yourself. Can You Sharpen A Core Drill? To sharpen your core drill bit – to deglaze it – you need to raise the weight on your bit while reducing the water flow. When your cut begins to improve, the bit has successfully sharpened. At that point, you can return both the weight and the water to their original levels. Make sure you choose a bit that matches the material you’re drilling and suits the task you need to perform.Both of these are common reasons that a bit might dull prematurely – reasons can you can avoid by using the bit only for its intended purpose. Some bits sharpen themselves during use — these are usually diamond-impregnated core bits. When you operate them correctly, the surrounding material wears away and exposes fresh diamond to maintain sharpness. However, even diamond bits can become dull if you use them improperly. To prevent this, adjust your drill settings to match the type of material or ground you’re working with. Manufacturers design core bits for specific materials, so you won’t find a true one-size-fits-all solution. Always select a bit that matches both the material and the job. Using the wrong bit makes it much easier to wear it out prematurely. When your bit stops cutting effectively, you can follow a few steps to sharpen it yourself. Start by briefly raise the weight on your bit by around 20 percent. While doing this, lessen the flow of water to the lowest amount that your manufacturer allows. You can check the lowest recommended water flow for your drill in the user’s manual, or on the manufacturer’s website. When you increase the weight on the bit, you will also notice that the torque of the drill rotation increases. This means that your initial material is shaving down, thereby sharpening and exposing new material. Your bit will begin to cut properly at this point. Once the cut improves, restore the water flow to the amount that it was at before you began to sharpen. You will also reduce the weight on the bit to its original amount. This process should successfully sharpen your bit. If the bit is sharpened without much trouble, it’s likely that there is an identifiable reason for why it became prematurely dull. To avoid these issues, read your manual and make sure your bit is accurate for both the project itself, and the material you’re drilling on. If you experience difficulty during this process, you may be dealing with a larger issue. It is advised that you contact a professional to take a look at your bit. Why Should I Maintain My Core Drill Bits? We’ve gone over the steps you can take to maintain your bits, but you might still be wondering why it’s necessary to maintain them at all. A core drill bit is used to remove cylindrical portions of material. This often means that the person using the drill to do significant work on their home. Additionally, these parts are used by professionals who need to do an excellent job. If you’re working individually on your home, you’re likely to have limited knowledge of construction. You’ll want to have functioning materials that will last. Even if you think that this will be the first and only time that you’re going to use the drill, you’ll want to be prepared for unexpected repairs that are needed in case you didn’t get it right the