Add a Basement Bathroom with an Ejector Pump

The basement in many homes is an under-utilized area. It may be used for a laundry room or storage, maybe a rec room for the kids. What if your basement could add more bedrooms and useable space to your home? Often the reason this area is not used more is the lack of a bathroom on this level of the home.

The reason many homes do not have a bathroom in the basement is a simple plumbing problem. Most plumbing is gravity driven; water and waste travels downward to the main sewer line with the use of gravity. In basements, waste needs to go up, so simple plumbing methods are not functional. The solution is an ejector pump that can propel water and waste up pipes to the main sewer line.

How an Ejector Pump Works

Ejector pumps are similar to sump pumps. They are automatically activated to pump waste water up and away from the home. With the installation of an ejector pump, you can add a half, three-quarter or full bath to your basement. The ejector pump will replace gravity to move the waste water from your bathroom fixtures. Most ejector pumps are electric require little maintenance to continue performing for many years.

Adding a bathroom to your basement can give you more living space for your family and inflate the value of your home. To learn more about how and where an ejector pump can be installed, contact your local plumbing company that offers ejector pump service. Your plumbing professionals can help you plan and install your ejector pump and bathroom fixtures to give your basement a new bathroom.

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

Ejector Pump For Basement Bathrooms

Do you have unused square footage in your home in your basement? Many homes have only partially finished basements that are used for laundry or storage, but many homeowners hesitate to fully finish those areas because they are concerned about being able to add a bathroom below ground level.  An ejector pump can provide the solution to this problem.  Investing in remodeling your basement can have many benefits, including:

  • Increase the square footage of your home. Once the basement is finished, it is considered part of the overall square footage of your home. This can add significant value to your home.
  • More bedrooms. Is your family growing bigger or the kids just want more space as they enter their teen years? Add a bedroom and bathroom downstairs to give your family more room and privacy.
  • Add a mother-in-law apartment. Make your basement a separate living space for investment purposes or for a family member.
  • Make a work area, studio or home office. Your basement could be a great area for you to explore working at home or engage in a hobby. Make the most of your extra space.

Adding Plumbing to Your Basement

One of the factors to consider when remodeling or finishing your basement is adding plumbing for a full bathroom.  With the help of an ejector pump, you can add a full bathroom below ground level. Installing an ejector pump allows you to add plumbing below the level of your main sewer line to move wastewater up to the sewer line for your home.

Make the most of every square foot of your home by remodeling your basement. You can add 50% or more to your home, giving you more space and value. Talk to your local sewer service to learn more about adding bathroom plumbing to your basement to improve the convenience and comfort of your new space.

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

Remodeling Your Basement? Add a Bathroom for Convenience and Value

Many homes have basements that are not considered part of the living space. Unfinished basements are fine for storage or a laundry room, but are a waste of space that could be part of your home. Remodeling your basement can add square footage to your home, increasing its value while giving your family more area to enjoy. If you are remodeling your basement to add living space, consider adding a downstairs bathroom for convenience and as a valuable addition to your home.

Basement Bathroom Issues

The reason that many homes with basements do not have a bathroom in this area is due to plumbing issues. While using a washer in the basement only requires expelling gray water, a bathroom requires elimination of solid waste. Since plumbing in the main floors of the house use gravity to move solid waste, you need another way to pump sewage from your basement as it will need to travel up to your sewer lines.

An ejector pump is the solution to adding a basement bathroom. This device pumps sewage up to your sewer lines, giving you the option of adding a bathroom or even kitchen plumbing to your basement. A local septic or sewer company can install an ejector pump that will give you the option of adding a bathroom to your remodeled basement, increasing the value of your home with the convenience of a larger living area.

Don’t let the square footage in your basement go to waste. Talk to your local sewer company about the option of adding an ejector pump to make the most of all your home’s living space.

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

Adding a Bathroom to Your Basement Using an Ejector Pump

Many homeowners have dreamed of converting their basement into a livable family area. Often basements become dark dungeons only used for a workshop or storage but they can become much more, especially with the addition of a bathroom. The problem is that most basements are below the sewer lines of the house, making it more difficult to add a bathroom. However, by adding an ejector pump the home, that basement bathroom and living area can become a reality.

What is an Ejector Pump?

An ejector pump is similar to a sump pump in that it removes water from the basement level by pumping upwards. However, an ejector pump moves sewer water, not excess rainwater, and connects to the sewer system above. By adding an ejector pump, you can have a bathroom plumbed into your basement, add a sink and even put your laundry room downstairs, creating more space on your main level.

Ejector pumps are often installed when a house is built but can be added as an addition. If you have a home with a basement that does not already have an ejector pump, an experienced sewer service can install the pump and connect it to your existing sewer lines. Many sewer companies are also expert plumbers that can help you install your new bathroom fixtures and connect your plumbing to the ejector pump.

Don’t let all that space in your basement go to waste. Talk to your local sewer service company about the possibility of adding an ejector pump and new bathroom to your basement. With the addition of a bathroom, you can add another bedroom or a family room, adding to the size and value of your home.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 736-8283

Difference Between a Sump and an Ejector Pump for Your Basement

If you own a home with a basement, there is a good change you have heard of both sump and ejector pumps, but you may not know the difference. While both are used in homes with basements to pump water up out of the lower level of the home, they do have different functions. Here is a breakdown of what each pump is used for to determine if you need either for your home.

Sump Pump Functions

Most people that have a sump pump for their home do so remove excess water from around their home’s foundation. This accumulated water can seep into the home and slowly deteriorate the foundation. The sump pump automatically turns on and removes this excess water once it reaches a certain level, protecting the home from water damage.

Another function of sump pumps is for air conditioning systems that cannot use a gravity drain system to remove condensation away from the building. This removes the moisture and places it safely away from your home.

Ejector Pump Functions

An ejector pump also removes water from the basement area, but it is from inside the basement. If you have a bathroom, laundry room or other water appliances in your basement, an ejector pump is needed to jet the wastewater up to the sewer line level. Anytime plumbing is installed below the sewer line, there is a good chance an ejector pump will be needed to facilitate wastewater removal.

Both sump and ejector pumps should be professionally installed by a plumbing and sewer expert to prevent expensive plumbing and water damage problems down the road.

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

Why Does My Septic System Have An Ejector Pump?

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

Sump and Ejector Pumps

Just about any home with an in ground basement is going to need a sump pump and perhaps an ejector pump.  A sump pump is used to remove rainwater and groundwater from the area around the home’s footings, while the ejector pump is used to pump sewage out of the home and into the sanitary sewer system.   A qualified plumbing contractor that specializes in sump pumps and ejector pumps will be able to install, repair, maintain and replace these systems as necessary.

In homes with a full in-ground basement, there is not a way for rainwater and ground water that is collected in the drain tile to be removed from the footings.  Often this leads to a leaky or otherwise damp and “musty” basement.  A pit is installed in the basement slab and the drain tile is routed into the pit.  A pump is then installed in the pit, which is connected to a drain line that is routed out of the home.  The pump is plugged in to an electrical outlet and the pump is operational.  As the pit fills up with water, the sump pump then pumps the water out of the pit and it is discharged outside of the home.

Ejector pumps are used when the lowest point of the plumbing in a home is below the sanitary sewer outside of the home.  As a result, sewage from the home is unable to be discharged into the sanitary system.  The solution is to install a pit to collect the sewage, with the ejector pump removing the sewage from the pit.  It is pumped into a pipe at a higher elevation, which then allows the sewage to be gravity fed into the sewer system.

If necessary, both pumps are critical to the home being able to function as designed and be habitable.  Both pumps must be regularly checked by a qualified plumbing contractor, who specializes in this type of work, for proper operation.

Sump Pumps and Ejector Pumps

Upon purchasing a new home, you find a pump in the basement and you have no idea what it’s for. First off, don’t be embarrassed. This is one of the most common questions asked by customers of sewer-septic service providers. Second, chances are, the pump is either a sump pump or an ejector pump.

Sump Pump 

A sump pump is used to drain excess water from the basement to keep it from flooding. This is especially important in coastal and other areas that are prone to flooding. Sump pumps keep excess water at bay and also help preserve foundations from cracking due to pressure from groundwater.

Typically, the sump pump is installed in a sump pit, a specially made hole for holding excess water from drains and natural water migration. When the water reaches a certain level, the sump pump lifts the water out of the hole and away from the building.

It’s always a good idea to have a battery back up for your sump pump. These are usually relatively inexpensive and easy to install and worth every penny if you want to avoid costly damages due to a basement flood.

Ejector Pump 

An ejector pump may resemble a sump pump, but it has an entirely different purpose. An ejector pump’s job is to pump solid waste and wastewater from toilets and sinks that are below the main water line. It is most often seen in houses with bathrooms or washing machines in the basement.

The ejector pump is placed in an ejector basin, a pit in the floor that is connected to sewer or septic pipes. The pump grinds up any solids, then pumps the effluent up from the basement and out to the septic system or city sewer.

One important note about ejector pumps is that the ejector basin must be sealed to avoid leakage of methane, a dangerously explosive gas. If you notice any foul smells around the basin, it is essential you call your sewer-septic right away to investigate and make any necessary repairs or replacements.