Sump and Ejector Pump Maintenance

August 9th, 2018 Posted in Sump Pumps and Ejector Pumps
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If you have a sump or ejector pump in your home, you rely on it to work as needed without fail. Sump pumps need to turn on when water levels rise and ejector pumps should be managing the flow of sewage up to the main sewer line. To ensure your pumps are working properly, regular maintenance and inspections are required. While you may not have the skills to maintain the motors of these pumps, you can perform regular inspections to ensure they are doing their jobs. Here are a few things to check.

  • Inspect the cover to ensure it is secure and tight; this cover should be child-proof for safety. Look for any issues with the seal or cracks in the cover.
  • Check for any evidence of leaks or overflows. If there was a backup or overflow, you may see water stains, smell odor or see particles left from the overflow.
  • Look for any damage to the reservoir basin like cracks, holes or other issues. The lid should fit tightly and the basin should not show any signs of leakage.
  • Check the basin for any debris. Large chunks of wood, fabric or other debris can clog the pump and cause a backup.
  • Inspect to make sure there are no exposed wires or openings to the tank or pumping chamber that need repair.

Doing regular inspections of your pumps can alert you if there is a problem so you can have it fixed before it causes a backup. In addition, schedule annual tune-ups and service for your pumps by a qualified sewer service to keep your equipment in good working order to prevent failure.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing Inc
Sterling, VA 20166
(703) 435-4441

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5 Items that can Clog Your Sewage Pump

January 5th, 2018 Posted in Sump Pumps and Ejector Pumps
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If you have a sewage pump in your septic system, you want to prevent clogs from occurring. Items that will not necessarily cause issues in your septic tank can be disastrous to your sewage pump. These items can create a clog or damage the pump, resulting in costly repairs. Here are five items to avoid putting down your drains to prevent sewage pump clogs.

  1. Cat litter. Even “flushable” cat litter should not be flushed down into a septic tank with a sewage pump. It can clog up the mechanisms in your grinder or sewage pump.
  2. Condoms and female hygiene items. Cotton, plastics and rubber all should be kept out of your septic system, including prophylactics and female hygiene products.
  3. Do not empty your fireplace ashes into the toilet or put them down the drain. They can gum up the pump and clog the system.
  4. Disposable wipes. Baby wipes and other “flushable” wipes can get caught in your sewage pump and cause a clog. Dryer sheets also do not breakdown in the septic tank and may create pump clogs.
  5. Cigarette butts. The filters on cigarettes are not bio-degradable and should not be flushed or put down drains when you own a septic system with a sewage pump.

If your sewage pump becomes clogged, your septic system can become backed up. You may notice drains in your home begin to slow down or sewage comes up the pipes. If you notice a problem with your drains in your home, call your local septic service company to inspect your septic system. You may have a sewage pump clog or other problem with your system.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

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Do You Need a Sump or Ejector Pump or Both?

December 30th, 2016 Posted in Sump Pumps and Ejector Pumps
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Movement of water in and around your home typically depends on using gravity as a force. However, when water is accumulated below your sewer lines in basement plumbing or from excess rainwater, you may need a pump to bring it up to the sewer line for elimination. Both sump and ejector pumps can achieve this goal, but each is used for different purposes. Here are the basics on these two types of pumps that can facilitate your water and waste elimination needs.

Sump Pumps

Water can be detrimental to your home’s foundation and cause flooding in basements or crawl spaces below your home. Sump pumps are used to remove water that collects below the surface of the ground surrounding your home. These are typically activated by an automatic system that gauges water levels. Once triggered, the pump expels water that approaches your foundation and basement walls.

Ejector Pumps

If you have plumbing for a kitchen, laundry room or bathroom that is in your basement or below your sewer lines, you need mechanical help to force the wastewater up to the desired level. An ejector pump is used for this purpose whenever the wastewater or sewage from your plumbing must exit your home from a lower area than your sewer lines.

If you want to add plumbing to your basement or have issues with basement flooding, you will need one or both of these pumps for your home or business. Your local sewer or septic service company can install the needed pumps and connect them to your sewer system to facilitate this need. Call your service provider to determine the best pump or pumps for your waste or water elimination problem.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing Inc
Sterling, VA
(703) 435-4441

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Sump Pumps Versus Ejector Pumps Problems

May 8th, 2014 Posted in Sump Pumps and Ejector Pumps
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Most homes with a basement will have at least a sump pump, with many also having an ejector pump. Although these pumps are similar, they have very different purposes. As a homeowner, it is important to understand the difference so that when something goes wrong with either pump, you have an easier time troubleshooting and finding a solution to the problem.

Sump Pumps

Sump pumps are used in many homes to keep ground water that surrounds the home’s foundation out of the basement. Typically a sump pump is in a cylindrical-shaped enclosure in the floor, called the sump basin, which is connected to the drain tile system. Ground water collects in the sump basin until the level of water triggers the sump pump’s float device. Once the float is triggered, the sump pump is activated and pumps the excess water up into the discharge pipe. This will direct the water into the sewer, septic or drain field away from the house’s foundation.

Ejector Pumps

Like sump sumps, ejector pumps push excess water out of the basement. However, instead of ground water, ejector pumps will collect and pump gray water from basement drains and water appliances or fixtures. These are typically found in homes with partially or fully finished basements which have a washer, utility sink or floor drain.

Since the water in sump pumps is usually clear ground water, it is rarely the source of the distinct smell of sewer or wastewater. While a flooding basement is often the first sign of a sump pump gone bad, a sewer odor in your basement may be an ejector pump problem. Either way, your local sewer or septic professional is the first call you should make to get the issue resolved.

Posted on behalf of Keith Lee, Metro Septic and Plumbing

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Why Does My Septic System Have An Ejector Pump?

March 26th, 2014 Posted in Sump Pumps and Ejector Pumps
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Ejector pumps are used on traditional septic systems due to grade conditions on the drain field.  In a perfect world the drain field would be located on a flat section of ground or ground falling away from the house.  However not every lot is flat and given the design criteria for septic systems often requires the use of land that rises away from the house.  In these cases an ejector pump is uses to pump the sewage uphill into a distribution box where it is distributed into the various perforated pipes making up the drain field, with gravity doing the rest.

In most cases a separate structure other than the septic tank contains the ejector pump, which is activated when the level inside of the tank turns on the pump.  When the level inside of the holding tank goes down, the pump shuts off.  In many jurisdictions, an alarm may be required, which advises the property owner that there is a problem with the ejector pump system.  Otherwise the property owner will not realize there is an issue until the toilets will not flush!

The required maintenance on ejector pumps is limited, with a check of the system being made each time the septic tank is pumped.  Obviously whenever the alarm goes off, a septic contractor should be called immediately to determine the cause of the problem and make the necessary repairs.  The use of ejector pumps on septic systems gives the property owner more options as far as where on the property to locate the structure, while still being able to install a code compliant septic system.  Otherwise many properties would be suitable for building!

Posted on behalf of Seagraves Plumbing Sewer and Septic

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Ejector Pumps

August 15th, 2013 Posted in Sump Pumps and Ejector Pumps
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Many homes have an either a full or partial bathroom located in the basement.  Often, because of the elevation of the below slab plumbing in the basement and the sewer or the septic tank and drain field, which is at a higher elevation, it is not possible for the sewage and waste water from the basement bathroom to be removed by a traditional gravity fed sewer.

Instead of the sewage and waste water flowing into the sewage or septic system by traditional gravity means, it is necessary to collect the sewage and waste water in a holding tank, where an ejector pump is used to pump the sewage and waste water out of the basement and into the existing sewage or septic system, which is at a higher elevation.  Without these pumps, it would not be possible to have a bathroom in many finished basements.

In today’s economic environment, many homeowners are choosing to finish their basements instead of buying a new home.   Whenever possible a bathroom should be included in the scope of the project because of the value it adds to a home.  A qualified contractor specializing in drainage systems can evaluate the home’s need for an ejector pump system for the basement bathroom.

In addition, they can install the storage tank, as well as the ejector pump.  In addition, they can also install an alarm system to notify the homeowner of the pump’s failure.  The contractor can also perform regularly scheduled inspections and repairs of the system.  As with any other mechanical system in a home, the periodic inspection maintenance and repair of the ejector pump by a qualified contractor is required to keep all systems operating properly!

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