Sump pumps are needed for basements and crawl spaces in areas where flooding is likely, due to a high water table or heavy rainfall. An ejector pump is necessary if you have water-consuming appliances or bathrooms installed in the basement or lower level of your home.
Can you use an ejector pump as a sump pump?
Yes, you most likely need a sump pump for your home, and no, you can’t necessarily use your sewage pump to also function as a sump pump.
What can be done instead of a sump pump?
Some potential alternatives to a sump pump are french drains, ground grading and gutters to improve drainage away from the home.
What kind of pump do you need for a basement bathroom?
sewage pumps
The most common application for sewage pumps is the installation of a bathroom in the basement. Because the basement is below-grade and usually situated below the sewage line entrance (usually about 4 feet below the house), a sewage pump is needed to pump waste and water up and out of the house.
How often should a sewage ejector pump run?
Assuming your sump pump is in good normal operating condition, it should only run when the water level activates that float switch. Depending on your location, it’s not unusual for your pump to kick on two or three times a day.
Are sewage ejector pumps reliable?
When properly maintained, a good sewage ejector pump can last about 8-10 years, though in all many cases, you’ll be able to get possibly 20-30 years of reliable service! Some homes are built using an ejector pump to handle all the waste and other ejector pumps are used have if you have a bathroom in your basement.
What drains into ejector pump?
Your sewage ejector pump is designed to lift wastewater up to the level of your main sewer drain.
How can I drain my basement without a sump pump?
When the Power Goes Out – How to Remove Water from Your Basement Without a Sump Pump
- Use A Mop. It may seem like an obvious solution, but a standard household mop is a great place to start. …
- Use a Handpump. …
- Use a Wet/Dry Vac. …
- Bring in a Generator. …
- Use a Trash-Water Pump.
How do you keep a basement dry without a sump pump?
To do this, a trench is dug to the depth of the footings of affected walls. Drainage pipe is installed at the bottom of the trench to collect water that seeps from above and carry it to a part of your yard away from your home or into a drainage pit. A coating and a vapor barrier are added to exterior walls.
Can you have a basement without a sump pump?
If your house is built on a concrete slab (no basement) then odds are there is no sump pump. Sump pumps are designed to take water that surrounds your foundation and pump it outside before it can seep into your basement. So—no basement—no need for a sump pump.
What is the difference between an ejector pump and a sump pump?
While the sump pump manages groundwater, the ejector pump moves wastewater from basement toilets and greywater from basement sinks, appliances, and floor drains uphill to the main sewer line.
Do ejector pumps require maintenance?
It’s important to perform routine maintenance on both a sump pump and an ejector pump at least once or twice a year.
Why does my ejector pump run when it rains?
During rain events, the ejector pit is actually serving as a sump long before the rainwater goes into the drain tiles to get pumped out by the sump. In heavy rains, my ejector will run twice a minute for a couple hours, then the sump will also kick in to pump out the water entering from the drain tiles.
Why do ejector pumps fail?
Ejector pump problems are often the result of improper installation. It’s also possible that the tank is too small. In either case, if you see raw sewage leaking, don’t waste any time calling a trained professional.
Are ejector pumps common?
Ejector pumps are also very common in septic drain-field systems, such as are found in rural locations where the septic drainage field or holding tank may be considerably higher than basement plumbing fixtures. Sewage ejector pumps are meant to sit in a sump basin that is cut and dug into the ground below grade.
How often do ejector pumps fail?
While most sewage ejector pumps are designed to withstand at least 7 to 10 years of use, with some even lasting much longer, occasionally problems do arise long before the pump has reached the end of its life span.
Why does my sewage ejector pump smell?
During dry periods, water in the sump pit evaporates over time because the pump does not remove it. When the basin fully dries, gases escape, which causes bad smells in your home.
Why does my basement smell like sewage when it rains?
Raining often causes atmospheric pressure changes, which can lead to the air becoming heavy. As such, the methane gases typically found in the septic tank don’t flow through the vent as they normally would. Instead, they stay low to the ground, causing a foul smell similar to rotten eggs.
What do I do if my basement smells like sewer?
Solution: Dump around a gallon of clean water down the drain to reseal the pipe and keep the odor out of your basement (add a mild household cleaner to the water for a fresh scent). Note: This applies to rarely-used toilets, as well. If the water in a toilet bowl has dried up, simply flush the toilet again.
