Sewage grinder pumps / sewage ejector pumps:

This article explains the differences between and 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.

We also give piping size recommendations for sewage pumps and effluent pumps based on the ejector pump rate in gpm. And we include a list of manufacturers of sewage pumps, septic pumps, effluent pumps, and grinder pumps.

An Environment One Corporation grinder pump schematic sketch is shown at the top of this article.

What is a Sewage Ejector Pump? Where are they used? How to maintain or troubleshoot a sewage grinder pump

How to buy, install, inspect, & maintain Septic tank pumps, septic grinder pumps, septic effluent pumps

What is a Sewage Ejector? Sewage ejector pumps & What's the difference between an effluent pump, sewage ejector pump, and grinder pump? Recommended pipe diameters for sewage pump installations.

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Advice is given for septic tank effluent or sewage pump selection, installation, maintenance, inspection, and use.

Septic pumps used for pumping air in aeration systems and septic pumps used to move effluent in a drip dispersion system are discussed under the appropriate septic system type which are outlined

at SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN ALTERNATIVES.

What is a Sewage Grinder Pump or Sewage Ejector Pump?

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Shown above is an older model packaged sewage ejector pump provided by Environment One Corporation (cited below).

A typical sump pump, effluent pump, or light-duty sewage pump has a life expectancy of about seven years but may last considerably less or considerably more depending on whether or not the installation was performed properly, whether maintenance is performed, and whether the proper pump type was chosen for the application at hand.

Don't confuse a sewage effluent pump or sewage grinder pump with a sewage effluent pump.

The general name for sewage pumps capable of handling normal toilet-flushable waste (feces and toilet paper) is sewage grinder pumps: they are intended to grind and move black water or sewage. A sewage grinder pump is synonymous with a septic grinder pump.

If the pump is intended only to move clarified wasttewater effluent, say from a septic tank to a drain field the proper term to use is sewage effluent pumps.

A detailed guide to types of sewage pumps, grinder pumps, de-watering and effluent pumps, pump manufacturers, and where to buy sewage pumps is

at SEWAGE PUMP BUYERS GUIDE & MANUALS

Even if a building is nearly at the same level as its septic tank or sewer line, if the geography of the site prevents sewage from flowing fast enough on its own (two-feet per second) then a sewage grinder or sewage ejector pump is needed.

A typical application of a sewage ejector pump is in a home where a basement bathroom is located lower than the height of the sewer line which leaves the home. The sewage ejector pump lifts waste from the basement bathroom up to the sewer line where it flows out to a septic tank or community sewer.

A sewage or septic grinder pump, (there is more than one grinding method) reduces sewage to a finely ground slurry of waste and water which can then be pumped or forced to its destination. In the sewage grinder pump photo shown at above left, the number of wires and pipes at the tank tells us that this is a duplexed or two-pump system with two grinder pumps, two drains, and a tank alarm as well (the center wires).

See SEPTIC PUMP ALARM SYSTEMS.

If your building's drain system is at a level below a municipal sewer line, or if your septic drainfield or tank and fields are uphill from the building, you need a sewage grinder pump and a forced-main sewer system.

If your home is connected to a community sewer line which itself uses a pumping station to move wastewater and sewage from the community sewer to a public sewage main, see our discussion of commercial-type sewage grinder and pumping systems found

at at SEWAGE PUMPING STATIONS.

Septic & Sewage Pump Manufacturers class their pumps into these categories

• Grinder pumps, such as Zoeller's 810/815 Turnkey Grinder Systems, 800-series Grinder Pumps, Cold-Climate grinder pumps, Simplex prepackaged grinder pump systems, and Simplex and Duplex (two pumps) grinder systems including four outdoor use.
• Utility, pedestal, & gas engine pumps. These are portable gas-engine powered pumps used typically in construction, service, or emergencies
• Sewage & Dewatering pumps, such as certain Aqua-Mate Models and Waste-Mate models, and Sewage-Waste 600-series pumps
• Sump, Effluent, Dewatering pumps, such as Water Ridd'r , Mighty-Mate, Aqua-Mate, Flow-Mate, and High Head Flow-Mate pumps - of certain models - be sure to read the manufacturer's intended use for a pump model before purchasing it

What Does a Sewage Ejector Pump Look Like?

The photo at above is a small pre-packaged wastewater ejector pump suitable for serving a sink or clothes washer; it's not a grinder pump.

In the photo at bottom left you'll see a small white plastic water alarm that the office manager left on the floor in this area in order to detect a plumbing supply or drain leak.

Also see FLOOD ALARMS

The sewage ejector pump photograph above shows a typical plug-in sewage ejector pump used in a home basement.

Frankly, a consumer unfamiliar with these products may have trouble telling the difference by a simple exterior inspection - it's reliable to observe the product name and number and then inquire of the manufacturer about the pump's intended application and its installation requirements.

But in the cases above, the overall size, location, and nearby plumbing fixtures defined the probable application of each pump even for a novice inspector and where view of the septic pump was limited.

In their most common usage, packaged septic pump systems are sold in a plastic "can" which contains the grinder pump, a float control to turn the pump on and off, and watertight fittings that permit connection of the system to the building electrical system (to supply power to the pump) and to the building drain waste vent system.

The pump manufacturer will provide a table of pumping capacity needed to overcome specific head or lift requirements and length or pipe run from the pumping station to its destination.

An Environment One Corporation grinder pump outdoor installation is shown at left while a sewage grinder pump schematic sketch is shown at page top.

Separately at SEPTIC PUMP ALARM SYSTEMS we illustrate an outdoor-mounted sewage pump alarm system provided by the same manufacturer.

Sewage Ejector Pump / Grinder Pump Maintenance

Not much maintenance is required for sewage grinder pumps other than clearing a blockage if you ignore our "Don't Flush" list given below. While at least some ejector pump models can tolerate being run "dry" for some time without damage, the manufacturer(s) recommend adjusting the pump float so that the liquid level in the receiving chamber never drops below the body of the pump motor.

If your sewage pump alarm is sounding stop using water, stop flushing toilets, turn off the washing machine, dishwasher, etc. right away to reduce the chances of a sewage backup. Details about responding to a sewage pump or ejector pump alarm are

at SEPTIC PUMP ALARM SYSTEMS

If your sewage grinder pump or sump pump is not turning on and off correctly, check the holding tank for clogging debris and check the operation of the sewage pump float control switch. Rising wastewater should lift the float that in turn operates a switch that turns on the pump. If the float is stuck by debris, obstructions or anything in the pumping chamber the sewage grinder pump cannot turn on and off as it should.

See details in these articles and in the Q&A sections of each:

of SEWAGE PUMP DAMAGE & REPAIR
and

at SEPTIC PUMP INSTALLATION

Sewage Grinder Pump or Septic Ejector Pump Preventive Maintenance, Clog, Damage & Odor Prevention

[Click to enlarge any image] Above, main parts of a sewage grinder pump, adapted from Zoeller's Shark series 803-805-807.

Watch out: when removing a grinder pump of sewage ejector pump from its station, do not lift the pump by its electrical wiring. Doing so risks damaging the wiring and voiding the pump warranty. Lift the pump by the steel handle or attachment intended for that purpose.

As the sewage grinder pump motor is oil filled, no lubrication or other maintenance is required, and generally will give very reliable service and can be expected to operate for years on normal sewage pumping without failing. However as with any mechanical piece of equipment a preventive maintenance program is recommended and suggested to include the following checks:

1. Inspect sewage grinder pump motor chamber for oil level and contamination and repair
2. Inspect the pump impeller and body for excessive build-up or clogging and repair
3. Inspect the pump motor and bearings and replace as required
4. Inspect the grinder pump motor seal for wear or leakage and repair as required ... [see reference [1]]
5. Inspect the sewage grinder pump breather vent (found only on some older outdoor sewage grinder pump models) located on the grinder pump tank side upper edge near the cover: keep this vent open or free of debris or clogs
6. Outdoor sewage grinder pump installations should be protected from surface runoff water to avoid flooding the tank or sending soil and debris into it.
7. Safety tip: keep fences, plantings, fish ponds or other outdoor features at least two meters away from the sewage grinder pump station to reduce the chances of hitting a buried electrical wire or sending clogging roots into the system. Record the location, depth, and routing of electrical wiring to be sure that future outdoor work does not encounter or damage the system.

Things to Keep Out of the Sewage Grinder Pump System to Avoid Clogs or Damage

Watch out: even a sewage grinder pump is not immune from becoming blocked or damaged by mineral debris, septic tank or holding tank debris, or solids that people may flush down a drain such as condoms, wipes, even cotton swabs or perhaps dental floss. We elaborate these trouble sources

at SEWAGE PUMP DAMAGE & REPAIR. Quoting Weinman [1]

The following examples of things to keep out of a sewage grinder pump system are excerpted from that article.

• Ashes such as from a fireplace
• Baby wipes
• Cat litter
• Chemicals & Drain Cleaners: some of these can corrode sewage grinder pump parts causing costly damage
• Cooking oil, fat, grease, lard
• Cigarettes, cigarette butts, filters
• Condoms
• Cotton swabs or wipes
• Dental floss
• Diapers
• Explosive or combustible liquids or materials
• Glass fragments or debris
• Gravel or stones such as from an aquarium
• Hair
• Metal fragments or scraps
• Plastic toys, scraps, fragments, plastic-stemmed Q-tips
• Q-tips of any sort
• Rubber gloves
• Sanitary napkins, tampons

A more complete list of things that should not be flushed down drains or into septic systems is organized

at TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST - home.

Sewage grinder pump leaks & odor complaints

This topic is now in a separate article found

at SEWAGE PUMP ODORS

Sewage Ejector Pump Piping Recommendations

Most of the sewage ejector pump installations we've inspected in residential properties use 2-inch waste piping to connect the pump outlet to the building sewer line. However the pipe diameter selection is guided by the anticipated flow rate - a figure that you can find in your ejector pump's installation and operations manual. Below we quote from Hyromatic [3].

Technical review by industry experts has been performed and is ongoing - reviewers welcomed and are listed at "References." This article is part of our series: SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION & MAINTENANCE COURSE an online book on septic systems. Sketches are from the Environment One Low Pressure Sewer Systems Grinder Pump catalog.

Sewage Grinder Pump Drain Venting

Depending on the lift height and other site conditions there are two sorts of vents one may find on any lift, grinder, or ejector pump or sump pump:

1. a small drain hole specified by the manufacturer drains back wastewater from the vertical drain line, below the check valve, into the sump or pumping pit or chamber
2. a separate vent may vent the sewage ejector piping to the open air outdoors

Model plumbing codes define a sump vent:

A vent from pneumatic sewage ejectors, or similar equipment, that terminates separately to the open air. - UPC 2006 

Sewage Grinder or Ejector Pumps & Electrical Power Outages

The following is excerpted from the Groton Connecticut USA Grinder Pump FAQs published by the Groton Department of Public Works:

Your grinder pump is powered by electricity and will not function during a power outage. In order to prevent waste from backing up into the lowest sink, tub, or toilet in your home, severely limit the interior use of water until power is restored.

This means do not shower or wash dishes and limit flushing the toilet. Remember: “If it’s brown flush it down, if it’s yellow let it mellow”.  - retrieved 16 Aug 2015, original source: "Grinder Pump Frequently Asked Questions", Groton Public Works, http://www.groton-ct.gov/depts/pubwks/docs/Grinder%20Pump%20Website%20info%20the%20hurricane.pdf

Sewage Wastewater Pump Intermittent Cycling

Reader Question: what may be causing the sewage pump to run "for no reason" ?

I ... hope you may be able to help me. I have a residential lift pump station in my home. It has been installed for about 25 years downstairs in my home and services the downstairs bathroom with a sink, shower and toilet and a bar sink, with little if any problems. There is very little use on this system as we have all of our appliances and upstairs bathrooms going directly to our municipal sewer system.

My problem is that the lift station pump motor cuts in about every 4 hours even when there has been no waste water going into the tank from the devices that it serves. It goes through it's normal pumping action for about 15 to 20 seconds and stops and this repeats almost every 4 hours.

Don't know what is causing this as we have been very careful not to put anything in it that could clog the system since we had it installed. This happened about a year ago in July, went back to normal operation over the fall, winter and spring and now it is happening again in August.

Can you suggest what may be causing this intermittent problem. I purchased a new pump last year so I would have a back up but prefer not to have to install it unless absolutely necessary. Could it be that the baffle on the main sewer line going from my house may be clogging occasionally and staying open and causing water to come back into the lift station downstairs and causing the pump to cut in?

Thank you very much for your earliest reply and any assistance that you may be able to give. Regards, [Anonymous] by private email 2016/08/17

Reply: Tips on how to Diagnose & Fix a Sewage Ejector Pump that Cycles Intermittently

You probably are using a sewage grinder pump for which we offer diagnosis and repair help online in this article serise beginning

with SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMPS - though this problem can occur on sewage effluent pumps too.

Alsos ee SEPTIC SYSTEM PUMPS

You're astute to suggest the possibility of sewage backflow into your pumping station, perhaps at a slow-enough rate that it takes a rather regular number of hours before the sewage pump has to cycle on again.

I suggest taking a look in the pumping chamber at the end of a pump-on cycle. Make note of the remaining wastewater level at the end of the pump cycle.

If you see the wastewater rise in the pumping chamber then we need to decide where it's coming from.

Look for an immediate backflow into the chamber from the pump's ejector drain line: that would indicate a bad check valve that's allowing wastewater to fall back into the pit, causing more frequent cycling than needed and shortening pump life.

You may be able to see the building wastewater pipe that enters the pumping chamber from the building fixtures. If that line is not flowing then look for more slowly-rising wastewater backflowing from the exit drain line. Check the wastewater level in the pumping chamber every hour.

If there is doubt about whether wastewater is entering the pumping chamber from running plumbing fixtures in the building versus from backflow in the sewage exit line, then try turning off all water into the building, then flush toilets (so we don't get confused by slow toilet tank drainage into the waste piping).

For the case you are describing you may also see no drainback into the pumping chamber from the exiting wastewater line at all.

In that instance I suspect that water is entering the pumping chamber from

Running plumbing fixtures in your building, such as a toilet that's running but perhaps slowly enough that you haven't noticed it.

See TOILET RUNS CONTINUOUSLYas sometimes people miss this condition.

Leave supply water off while you watch again for water rising in the pumping chamber. If no toilet tanks hold water that might be draining and water supply to all building fixtures is off and you see wastewater rising in the pumping chamber there are two obvious possibilities:

We (and you) suggested above a backflowing sewer line or a bad checkvalve in that line (including right at the sewage pump).
Also

see SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION where we discuss backflow and check valves on waste piping.

A second possibility is groundwater entering the pumping chamber if it has become open to soil under the building. To evaluate this possibility you'll probably have to empty the chamber completely and inspect it for damage, holes, cuts, or for entering water from around the chamber's exterior. Keep in mind that depending on how the exiting waste piping is routed, a leaky exiting waste line could itself leak and seep back into the pumping chamber.

E.g. I have found a "wet basement" whose "water" entry was by no coincidence, entering the foundation wall just below the exit point of the main sewer line. Outside the building the line was broken and leaking back into the building.

Other clues that make a waste pump cycle intermittently could be traced to the same conditions that cause a private well pump to cycle intermittently on the supply side of the plumbing system, so you might also want to check the diagnostic suggestions

at WATER PUMP INTERMITTENT CYCLING

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2021-02-10 by - by (mod) -

friedman (mod)

That does sound strange. You might ask your plumber to check to see if there is a missing or defective check valve at your sewage grinder pump or a drain waste vent system defect in the venting line.

On 2021-02-09 2 by greg

Everything is working fine but there is a venting issue i believe. i can hear loud air escape coming up through kitchen sink upstairs after pumps runs in basement. Any ideas. Thanks

On 2020-03-18 by - by (mod) -

friedman (mod)

Daniel

Indeed that sounds like an odor-source track-down challenge.

When the pump runs is it causing loss of the water trap in other plumbing fixtures? If so the building's plumbing vent system may be blocked or inadequate.

Start by checking for floor drains that have lost their water seal.

On 2020-03-17 by Daniel

I had a pump installed in my basement for use in an installed bathroom. works fine but when it runs I smell sewage in other rooms of the basement that have their own drains that were built into foundation when home was built.
any ideas on where tp start search for cause of smell?
thanks

On 2019-02-09 by - by (mod) -

friedman (mod)

Dave

If you're not equipped to handle raw sewage - which certainly involves health risks - you might call a septic pumping company to empty the pit for you. While the pumping contractor is there ask her to wash down the pit and pump out the washwater as well.

That will give access to the (still not sanitary) pump.

On 2019-02-09 by Dave

Pit is full of waste

On 2019-02-09 by Dave

My out is full of waste, what is the best way to empty it so I can see if my pump is bad

On 2019-02-01 by - by (mod) -

friedman (mod)

No such additive should be required, and some may be harmful to the septic system or even illegal to use, depending on where you live.

If you're having a problem with sewage ejector pump clogging often it's due to choice of the wrong pump type, or people flushing stuff down toilets that they ought to put into the trash, like tampons and baby wipes.

On 2019-02-01 by Mario

Is there an additive that you can add to the water to help your sewage ejector?

On 2018-02-26 by - by (mod) -

friedman (mod)

That sounds to me as if there is either a blocked drain line or improper plumbing and a missing check valve.

On 2018-02-26 by Victoria

I have a guest house 50 feet from the main house. Every time the ejector pump shoots the waste/waste water through the pipes on the way to the septic tank in the yard my utility sink in laundry room has water back up into it. Do I have a drainage problem or the ejector pump problem?

...

Continue reading  at SEWAGE PUMP DAMAGE & REPAIR or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMP FAQs - questions & answers posted originally at this page

Or see these

Septic Pump / Sewage Grinder Pump Articles

• FLOOD ALARMS - detect water on floors or in basements or crawl spaces
• SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMPS - home
  • DISPOSABLE WET WIPE CLOGS
  • FREE-STANDING GRINDER PUMPS
  • SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS, RESIDENTIAL
  • SEPTIC SYSTEM PUMPS
  • SEPTIC PUMP ALARM SYSTEMS
  • SEPTIC PUMP BUYERS GUIDE & MANUALS
  • SEPTIC PUMP DUPLEX DESIGNS
  • SEPTIC PUMP INSPECTION & MAINTENANCE
  • SEPTIC PUMP INSTALLATION
  • SEWAGE PUMP DAMAGE & REPAIR
  • SEWAGE PUMP INTERMITTENT CYCLING
  • SEWAGE PUMPING STATIONS
  • SEWAGE PUMP BUYERS GUIDE & MANUALS
  • SEWAGE PUMP DAMAGE & REPAIR
  • SEWAGE PUMP ODORS
  • SEPTIC PUMP ALARM SYSTEMS
• SEPTIC SYSTEM PUMPS
• SUMP PUMPS

Suggested citation for this web page

SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMPS 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

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Citations & References

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

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