What Is A Sewage Ejector Pump?

The water, waste, and sewage that leaves your home or business utilize simple gravity to move these unwanted materials from your property into the city’s municipal sewer system. As you may be able to imagine, certain utilities or plumbing features will not always be above the main sewer line. When a toilet or washing machine is located at lower levels, a sewage ejector pump is necessary to pump the water and waste so it can flow through your piping system. This helpful item, a pump-up ejector system, is most commonly used in the lowest point of homes and businesses. However, it is unnecessary for every situation, typically when the sewer main line is above the basement plumbing fixtures. Ejector pumps are standard in septic drain-field systems, perhaps in rural areas where the septic drainage field or holding tank might be raised substantially above the plumbing fixtures. 

(801) 601-1298

Sewage ejector pumps and plumbing

Compared to other modern plumbing technologies, such as instant water leak detection, these pumps are relatively simple in design. They are typically installed in a basin cut and dug into the ground. This sump basin collects roughly 30 gallons of waste, which is necessary for most homes. A float is used to moderate levels, and when a certain amount of storage is reached, the pump will be triggered to begin pumping the waste to the outside underground pipes. The principle is similar to how a groundwater sump pump runs. Instead of rainwater infiltration being drained of the house, it is waste/sewage being drained into the primary sewage system lines or septic field. Not all local plumbing companies know how to install, maintain, or repair these critical systems properly. When a sewage ejector pump breaks or fails, it can lead to unsanitary conditions in the home, sewage being backed up, and even property damage due to leaking water or sewage.

At Plumbing Utah Heating & Air, we have taken preventative measures to ensure that every sump pump installation is free from leaks and flooding. All of our technicians install sump and sewage ejector pump sound alarms that provide audible warnings when levels are too high. These devices have a backup battery to monitor water levels even if the power goes out. If you are reading this outside of Utah, insist that your plumbers install such monitors to protect your home and business.

What can cause an ejector pump to fail?

If you have read our online blogs before, you understand that we often discourage flushing anything down your toilet that is not meant to be flushed. The most common reason that the pump will break is due to materials clogging the system. Some toilet or drain clogs will gradually take a while before things get bad enough that the pipe will no longer drain. A clog with a sewage ejector pump can be immediate and highly problematic. It is one of the many reasons everyone in your home understands that certain materials should never be flushed down the toilet, including cotton swabs, dental floss, feminine hygiene products, disposable wipes, cigarette butts, and chemical drain cleaners. If you have a sewage ejector pump and are experiencing issues, we invite you to call the professional plumbers at Plumbing Utah Heating & Air. Our technicians are ready to dispatch to any home or business in and around Salt Lake City; contact us today at (801) 601-1298.