InspectAPedia®   -   Search InspectApedia

Typical home sewage grinder pump Stop Septic Grinder & Sewage Ejector Pump Odors

Sewage grinder pump / sewage ejector pump or sump pump odor diagnosis & cure:

How to diagnose & cure sewer smells at septic or sump pumps. How to find and fix the source of smells coming from a sump pump it, effluent pump system, or sewage grinder or sewage ejector pump installation.

This article series gives installation and maintenance advice for Sump Pumps, Sewage Ejector Pumps, Septic Grinder Pumps, Sewage Pumping Stations, & Septic Pump Alarms. We discuss sewage grinder pump types, sizes, voltages, horsepower, installation and maintenance.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

- Daniel Friedman, Publisher/Editor/Author - See WHO ARE WE?

Sewage grinder pump leaks & odor complaints

Photo of a common sewage ejector pump used in a modern basementWhat to check when troubleshooting odors or smells from a sump pit, effluent pump, or sewage ejector pump system:

The following advice is excerpted from SEPTIC / SEWER ODOR SOURCE TABLE. See that more complete article if you are having trouble tracking down the source of sewage or septic smells at or around a building.

Question: septic pump grinder pump smell complaints & advice

(Feb 18, 2015) mike.ice@hajoca.com said:

We have two septic pumps in our building. One is for a small break room and the other services two large bathrooms. We have a terrible smell coming from a larger septic grinder pump and I was concerned about what chemicals I can pour down the drain to eliminate the smell. I know bleach reacts with ammonia creating a toxic gas so I didn't want to put anyone at harm.

Is there anything I can do to prevent this odor? It does have a large 4" vent that goes straight to the roof and we sealed all the cover plates and holes with silicone sealant but the smell is still strong and leaks into our hallways where customers come through. What can I do?

Reply:

Mike, rather than pouring chemicals I'd look for the problem source to find a more long lasting and safer solution. A venting system defect, missing check valve, or a leak, for example, may be at fault.

Question: Use of chemical treatments to control odors at a Zoeller sump pit ?

6 June 2016 Pete Beck said:

I have 1/3 HP Zoeller sump pump. Can I use a chemical like the ones used to keep black water odor under control in travel trailers and motor homes,,to keep my sump pit from smelling, w/out damaging the pump...Thanks in advance for you help....Pete

Reply:

Pete, you don't indicate which Zoeller pump you have instaalled, nor am I sure (since you use the term "sump pump") if we are discussing a de-watering sump pump installation or a sewage (blackwater) ejector pump.

I'm guessing the latter since you refer to "black water odor". In that case odors shouldn't be coming out of your pump system. For **example**, referring to Zoeller's Instruction Manual for the company's effluent/sump/de-watering pump (notice this is not a sewage grinder pump), for a wide range of Zoeller pump models (( Zoeller Pump Model 55 / 59, 70, 73, 75, 139 Series, 140 / 4140, 145 / 4145, 160 / 4160 Series, 180 / 4180, 191, 371, 372, 373 Series effluent & de-waatering pumps as well as Zoeller pump models 211, 212 Series, 270 / 4270 Series, 280 / 4280, 290 / 4290 Series sewage pumps (again these are not grinder pumps),)) available from the company's online literature library, you'll read that to control odors the company cites two features:

  1. Gas-tight seals are required to contain gases and odors.
  2. Vent gases and odors to the atmosphere through vent pipe.

So I'd start by checking those features of your installation. If, for example, your system uses a loose cover that's a very common and correctable source of sewage smells.

Use of chemical additives and treatments, depending on the chemical, might not harm the pump but shouldn't be necessary. And harsh or caustic chemicals may also damage the pump. Zoeller includes this warning in the service checklist for the example manual we cite:

Abrasive material and adverse chemicals could possibly deteriorate impeller and pump housing

You don't say if you're connected to a private septic or public sewer - beware of dumping treatments in volume into a septic system. Search InspectApedia for SEPTIC TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS for details.

If you don't have the manual for your Zoeller pump, contact the company at the address we give below.

Watch out: tracking down the source of sewer gas odors or septic smells can be tricky. At a recent inspection looking into a complaint of sewer odors in the kitchen of an older home, with the homeowner we ultimately traced the odor source to dry traps in floor drains in the basement below.

Sewer gas odor traced to dry floor drain connected to sewer line (C) Daniel Friedman

This pump manual pertains to the following pumps in the applications recommended by Zoeller:

Recommended Zoeller Pump Models by Application

  
Effluent 1 / Sump / De-Watering Pump Models Sewage Ejector Pump Models
Zoeller 55 / 59, 70, 73, 75, 139 Series Zoeller 211, 212 Series
Zoeller 140 / 4140, 145 / 4145, 160 / 4160 Series Zoeller 270 / 4270 Series
Zoeller 180 / 4180, 191, 371, 372, 373 Series Zoeller 280 / 4280, 290 / 4290 Series

Notes to the Table Above

Zoeller's notes include:

1 Effluent systems should specify that pumps should not handle solids exceeding 3/4” in order to prevent large solids from entering leeching fields, mound systems, etc. (70 Series have 3/8” solids capability. 50, 140/4140, 371 and 372 Series have ½”, 130 Series has 5/8”, 145/4145, 160/4160, 180/4180 and 373 models have 3/4”.)

Where code permits, sewage pumps can be used for effluent systems. Non-automatic pumps with external-level controls are recommended for septic tank effluent applications

Watch out: note that the company explains that you may use a sewge pump for effluent systems - that is, for pumping clarified septic effluent up to an absorption bed, soakbed, or drainfield or leaching bed. The converse is not true, that is, you should not use a pump intended for effluent or de-watering to try to pump raw sewage. It will clog and fail.

Watch out: to reduce the risk of clogging and also pump seal failures, a vent hole and check valve may be required in your installation.

See CHECK VALVES on DRAINS, SEWAGE PUMPS, SUMP PUMPS
and

See SEPTIC / SEWAGE PUMP DISCHARGE VENT

Watch out: proper electrical wiring, including proper electrical grounding and ground fault protection are necessary for liquid handling pumps such as these in order to reduce the risk of fatal electrical shock.

Adapted from

For help tracking down and fixing sewer gas or septic odors in or at buildings start at ODORS, SEPTIC or SEWER - home

InspectAPedia is supported by ads placed on our pages by Google. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

...


ADVERTISEMENT



Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2019-10-19 by (mod) - not normal for there to be a sewage odor coming out of a condensate pump

It's not normal for there to be a sewage odor coming out of a condensate pump and into occupied space. Something's wrong with the installation.

On 2019-10-19 by Maggie

I live on first floor of 9 story condo bldg. the grinder pump is in the basement right below my unit. When it comes on, then cuts off, bad sewage odors come up through my bath sink and tub drain, plus I assume the toilet as well.

It is a very gross smell... radiates all through my condo. Management says nothing is wrong with grinder pump. But smell emits right after it shuts off. My throat and head hurts most of the time. Is this dangerous?

On 2019-09-14 by (mod) - sewage ejector pump doesn't require treatment chemicals

No, Joyce, a sewage ejector pump doesn't require treatment chemicals to work properly. But it is important to install the right type of pump - one that can grind and dispose of solid waste.

If your toilets don't flush check the reservoir at the pump: if it's overflowing or backing up there then most-likely either the pump's not working or the sewer line (septic system) is blocked.

On 2019-09-14 by Joyce

Sump pump replaced approximately a year ago. Recently noticing an occasional flushing problem. Does this type of set up need periodic chemicals to keep it running effectively?. Similar to a RV set up.

On 2018-09-21 by (mod) -

Thank you for asking, Sue as you pose a frequently-raised concern about septic tank odors vs. additives.

A properly working and installed septic tank and conventional drainfield never requires the use of any additive nor booster, no chemicals, no treatments, nothing except the normal wastewater that flows into the tank.

Some additives and treatments harm the system, others contaminate the environment and are illegal, banned from use in many jurisdictions.

Enzyme type treatments are generally harmless and some may be useful to help de-clog in-building drain lines of organic deposits that clog or slow drains.

But the septic tank doesn't need them

Details are at CHEMICALS & TREATMENTS for SEPTICS
https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Tank_Treatments.php

On 2018-09-21 by Sue

Can I use an enzyme like RidX with my septic holding tank macerator ejector to ward off septic orders without causing clog up in the macerator?

On 2017-11-21 by (mod) -

If you are pumping to a septic drain field I suspect that the drainfield is flooding in failing during wet weather

On 2017-11-20 10:41:59.635871 by Robbie

I have black clumps that are tacky and smell like a sewage that has clogged my outlet hose nd pump now it only shows up during hard rain but my question is what is it and how do i prevent it thank you

On 2017-04-05 16:06:20.509238 by (mod) -

Brenda,

If the lights go OFF in part of your home when some other equpment (like a sewage pump) is running, then there is an electrical short or failing motor - that is an UNSAFE condition risking electrical fire or shock as well as a sewage backup. It sound as if you need a licensed electrician on-site.

Let me know what you're told and we may be able to offer other suggestions.

Daniel

On 2017-04-05 by Brenda

What name of box thats set under mobli home and when it go out it makes light go out on one side of house

On 2016-12-31 by (mod) - septic tank lid needs to be repaired and sealed.

Sounds as if the lid needs to be repaired and sealed. Yes you can drain a dehumidifier into the sump pit provided it's piped so as to avoid any possible sewage backup out through that drain.

On 2016-12-31 by Charlie

This past week I noticed a sewage smell in the basement of our recently purchased 2nd home, which seems to be coming from the grinder pump. The previous owner put caulking in a hole on the lid, but it dried out and some of the caulking is missing. I also noticed the lid moves, but can't tell if there is a gasket around the lid.

Is it wise to put a dehumidifier hose into the hole and caulk around that hose, as well as caulk around the edge of the lid to prevent odors from escaping the grinder pump pit?
Thanks for your help.


...

Continue reading at SEWAGE ODOR SOURCE LOCATIONor select a topic from closely-related articles below, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Septic Pump / Sewage Grinder Pump Articles

Suggested citation for this web page

SEWAGE PUMP ODORS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.

Search the InspectApedia website

Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.

Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted.
Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.
Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca

Comment Form is loading comments...

Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.


ADVERTISEMENT