Septic & Sewage Pump FAQs

Index to all Q&A on Sewage Pumps, Septic Pumps, Effluent Pumps & Sump Pumps

Septic or Sewage Pump Applications or Uses Q&A

Tip: See details at SEPTIC / SEWAGE PUMP TYPES

Which type of wastewater drainage is preferred: septic pump or gravity disposal?

I am faced with a dilemma on my new building.

I need to tap into a sewer line and I have two options.

120 ft gravity flow - cost $7500.00
or

80ft, level, flow using a sewage pump(grinder?) - cost $3700.00 plus the grinder.

Is it woth saving money at the expense of a pump, or am I better off paying the extra money now with no future pump issues. - 2015-07-25 by Gavin PG

by (mod) - gravity drainage: simpler, not dependent on electrical power

I always prefer a gravity flow for waste or other water disposal as it means the system will continue to work when there is a loss of power.

Be sure to include appropriate check valves in either design to prevent sewage backflow into the building.

 

Do we always need a septic tank ahead of the lift station?

We are installing a simplex sewage ejection station in a new house. The town has asked us to install a 1000 gal septic tank before the lift station. Is this a recommended step? It seems redundant and unnecessary. - Nick P.

Reply:

Nick:

The requirement for a septic tank before the lift station may have arisen from one of these concerns:

A concern that there was a need for separation of solids from effluent - not something that makes sense if we're talking about a grinder pump lifting to a public sewer.

or

A concern that the design needed a buffer or holding tank to permit accumulation of septage to permit the residents to continue to use toilets and plumbing systems for some period in event of a power failure.

You need to discuss their reasoning with your town officials - find out what the worry is. If it's the need for a buffering tank, the solution where a grinder pump is installed probably lies in the specification of the size of the main pumping chamber, not the requirement to install a septic tank ahead of the pumping lift station.

After all, once installed, the septic tank will remain always full anyway. It wouldn't do a thing for you except add maintenance costs.

 

We added a septic pump when adding a basement bathroom - how can we avoid using the pump?

We used to have a natural gravity flow to the septic system until we added a bathroom in the basement which required a septic pump (but everyone around here always call it a sump pump).

Want to go back to the gravity flow method and would like to know if there is a way to also keep the pump system that could be only turned on when/if needed. Is it possible to incorporate a dual system? - T. Head

Reply: how sewage grinder pumps work; what's the difference between a sewage pump and a sump pump?

T.H.

Most often the addition of a sewage ejector pump to allow installation of a basement bath becomes necessary because the bathroom floor is lower than the existing sewer line. The pump has to lift only the waste from the new bathroom - up to the existing sewer line where it then flows by gravity out to the existing septic tank or sewer system.

You don't want to put a manual switch on your basement bath's sewage pump - the pump will run only when that bathroom is used.

By the way, while people may speak carelessly about what these pumps are called, the proper term is sewage pump, sewerage pump, sewage ejector pump, or grinder pump. These pumps all include a grinder that macerates solid waste so that it can flow up through smaller-diameter piping to a point where it empties into the main building drain.

A sump pump is designed only to pump water, such as ground water, or graywater from a laundry sink. If your plumber installs a sump pump into a pit handling solid waste, it won't last long at all - it's the wrong pump.

What can we connect to the ejector pump system? Only basement level drains?

Does an ejector pump serve any unit in a building besides the below grade unit? Thank you - our Association is trying to figure this out! - (Dec 22, 2014) CSC Cond

Reply:

CSC

Possibly yes. An ejector pump will grind and pump whatever is drained into its reservoir. It's technically possible to drain an upper floor fixture into an ejector pump installed below grade.

CSC Condo said:

Thank you Dan Joe! Good to know it is possible...but is it likely? (we are an 8 unit building, with two lower units, both with Ejector Pumps, and Sump Pumps) My inspector said the Ejector Pump only served my unit. I appreciate your quick response!

How powerful does my septic pump need to be?

Dose my pump for septic have to be more powerful if my one bathroom is on the other side of the house...the pump works great for my washer from my other bathroom and kitchen ..but it won't won't drain from the far bathroom. On 2016-08-23 by Anonymous

Reply by (mod) -

I don't have the whole picture anon. But if your more distant bath is draining by gravity into the sewage ejector pump then the pump is working the same and doing the same for all fixtures that it serves: it doesn't know where the waste is originating.

So if the remote bath doesn't drain I suspect that the problem is in the piping between bath and pump or the slope is inadequate or the pipe's clogged.

That's not a septic or sewage pump horsepower or power question.

 

What kind of sump pump to use if groundwater is entering the sump pump tanks?

Which pump would be best for a situation where we get a LOT of groundwater coming into our two sump pump tanks? The geology under our foundation seems to be a collection point for runoff after large rains.

A normal sump pump runs nearly continuously for up to two days after a big rain. We are NOT planning to pump sewage but would a sewage ejector pump do a better job for high volumes of water? On 2017-05-02 by Anonymous

by (mod) - are we discussing a de-watering sump pump or a sewage pump?

Anon

I'm sorry but no pump is going to solve the problem if by "sump pump tanks" you mean sewage ejector or sewage effluent pumps that are part of a septic system - because even if you put in a pump that handled the water load, you'll flood the septic soakbed/drainfield and ruin it in short order.

But if you mean you need to remove large volumes of groundwater from around a building using sump pumps, you may want a cascade of pumps and multiple pumping points as well as a suitable destination that directs the ejected water well away from the building.

See details at SUMP PUMP SINGLE vs DUPLEX

But in my experience it is also worth finding out where that water's coming from: most of the time you can find and fix that problem at the roof, gutters, or surface drainage around a building.

Septic / Sewage Pump Odors FAQs

How do we control smells or odors at a sewage sump pump?

What can be poured into the comode, to go through the ejector pump or grinder pump, to eliminate smell? This is in a basement and pumps up to the tank system. - Don Votaw

Reply:

Don, Cloroben and other manufacturers produce drain cleaning liquids that are enzymes that should not harm a septic system. But I'd expect the smell to return as the system is used. Better to find the exact odor source and fix that - assuring good plumbing venting, no leaks at toilets or equipment, etc.

Septic / Sewage Pump Controls FAQs - Floats, Switches

When the sump pump float fails do I need to replace the whole pump?

If the float goes, and needs replacing, does the pump require replacing too? I have a yes from one company and a no from another - thanks. - AssocHomeowner

Reply: No. Not unless the float failure damagted the pump Here are sources for replacement sewer or sump pump float switches and submersible floats

Assoc.,

The float switch assembly on at least some sewage ejector pumps is a replaceable part. Check the installation manual for your sewage grinder pump and you'll see part numbers to order an exact replacement, though generic switches are also available. If you can't find that information, tell us the brand of your pump and we'll research it for you.

Watch out: there may be some pump models whose water-tight assembly does not encourage replacement of the float switch. The problem is that the electrical components have to be absolutely water-tight to avoid electrocution hazards.

But even in the case of an integral float switch that cannot be repaired without breaking the water-tight seal on the pump assembly, it may be possible to simply tie off the old floats to keep them out of the way (avoiding fouling or tangling the replacement floats), followed by installation of an independent float switch control assembly.

Independent float switches include a submersible float switch that is inserted into the pumping chamber, along with an electrical connector that plugs in above ground between the existing pump electrical power connection and the power source. So no electrical connections are exposed to wet conditions.

• Some sources of float switches for sewer pumps and sump pumps include:
• Burcam sewage and sump pump float switch
• Dwyer - level float switches
• Flotec sump pump replacement submersible float switches
• Grainger - Grainger.com sells float switches
• Zoeller float switches

Septic / Sewage Pump Repairs & Parts FAQs

Red light is on at my septic pump and it smoked and now the septic pump won't run

My red light came on 4 days ago. My pump is not running and their is small amount of smoke from the start capacitator when we switched to manual position On 2018-05-16 by Lani

Answer by (mod) -

Lani

Watch out: TURN OFF your system at the electrical panel immediately to avoid a fire, further damage, or a possible shock hazard.

Then ask for help from a licensed electrician. I can't guess from your note just where the problem resides: a failed septic pump motor, shorted electrical wire, or failed control switch. But what you describe is unsafe.

Watch out: Your red light is probably a warning that the sewage level in your septic tank is dangerously high - risking a sewage backup into the building.

We explain septic / sewage pump alarms at SEPTIC PUMP ALARM SYSTEMS

So you want to

1. Minimize wastewater usage until your pump is fixed
2. Get that pump fixed right away

How to fix a Short cycling lift station pump: Warrick 67 intrinsic safe 2 pump controller

Hello and thank you for your help. We have a lift station with a lead and lag pump.

Pump one is short cycling and I don't know why! We have a new Warrick 67 intrinsic safe 2 pump controller.

The controller test out fine how ever when we leave both pumps in auto when pump it's pump ones turn it short cycles. Why? We also think we have a float issue and we are in the process of getting a new one for the well.

Originally I got a call saying the pump went air borne because pump one never shut off. We put a temp float in and new controller which was bad and still not fixed.

Where do I go from here. We even verified the float wires all the way back to the controller. Please help direct my next move. Thank you very much. Dan :-) 8/7/12

Reply:

I am guessing that your control panel is http://www.gemssensors.com/Products/Level/Warrick/Kits-panels-alarms/Control-Panels/CP-67

With a duplex pump system. And chances are you already have the manual.

What I can't accurately guess is if we're looking at

• a bad float (could be a bad internal switch),
• a loose wire,
• a bad sensor location/mount, or
• an actual wastewater level sensor defect.

At this point I'd call Warrick for smarter help than I can offer. Warrick can be called directly at 1-800-378-1600 - and as they know their controls best, that may be the smartest move.

Outside the US: 860-747-3000
Fax: 860-747-4244
Email info@gemssensors.com

Their website is www.warrick.com or apparently also Gems Sensors Inc. One Cowles Road Plainville, CT 06062 (860)793-4579 FAX(860)793-4580

As the Warrick site auto-forwards to www.gemssensors.com

Where to find Norweco / Singalair aerobic system repair help for pump and parts

Ive got an norweco/singalair aerobic system at my home and have a final tank effluent pump that's bad. it pumps effluent water up hill to a dechlorant station about 50 yards. the pump has a 2" pvc pipe coming out to distribution. its 115 volt pump. the pump is controlled by a pump control system with a low and high water control norweco/singalair system.

i need to now exactly what pump I need. what horse power and volume.whats the best pump for my system.

its got a single cable coming out of the pump going under ground back to the control unit under the house.im putting a new waterproof outside electrical control box outside to tie in all the electrical components from the lo and high water switches and pump into the box and can tie the connection from the effluent pump to the underground connection in that box.

I just need to know what pump I need to buy? (Oct 11, 2014) chris

Reply: Norwalk Wastewater Equipment Company, Inc. contact information for Norweco & Singulair aerobic septic pumps

Jim,

For the most-expert help with a Norweco - Singulair areobic septic system I'd give the company a call directly.

Norwalk Wastewater Equipment Company, Inc.
220 Republic Street Norwalk, Ohio U.S.A. 44857-1156
1-800-NORWECO Phone: (419) 668-4471 Fax: (419) 663-5440