Sewage Ejector Pump & Septic Pump Inspection, Maintenance & Repair FAQs

Septic / Sewage Pump Maintenance FAQs

Tip: See details at SEWAGE PUMP MAINTENANCE

How Often do we Inspect the Pump in effluent holding chambers at a pumping station?

How often do you recommend pumping out the tank where an effluent pump is located in order to inspect the pump itself?

Our neighborhood has a shared leach field. Each house has a septic tank, and the gray water goes to pump stations and from there to the leach field.

We're creating an association and any advice as to maintenance schedules, etc. is greatly appreciated. Thank you! - Deb Loomis

Reply:

Deb:

For septic *tank* pumping frequency, take a look at the suggestions at SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE (article links listed at the ARTICLE INDEX the bottom of SEPTIC SYSTEM PUMP SAFETY ).

If the septic tanks are working properly, that is they are being pumped on schedule and checked for damage such as lost or broken baffles, the rate of accumulation of solids, scum, and sludge in the effluent pumping chamber is much less.

I have not found a design specification for that condition but my experience suggests that you have the effluent pumping chamber pumped after the first year of use so that you can obtain data on the rate of accumulation of scum and sludge in the tank.

Most likely that will indicate that you will be able to extend the effluent holding tank pumping frequency to a longer interval.

But in sum, I'd base it on experience not on a table, and I'd be sure that someone is monitoring the maintenance of the individual feeding-septic tanks. One broken septic tank baffle could send a large volume of solids into the pumping chamber and thence it would damage the drainfield.

 

Worried about sewage staying too long in the grinder pump reservoir when it's not in active use

We live in a city and our house has a pump in the basement. After reading this, I realized it must be a sewage ejector pump.

We've tried not to use the basement toilet because I am afraid that solid waste will stay in the tank for a long time before being pumped into the sewage line and that's not very pleasant. Does waste get pumped out right away or it sits there until there's enough to trigger the pump? Thanks. (Oct 17, 2014) Kimmie

Reply: suggestion by moderator: leave clean water in the pumping chamber

Kimmie

Most residential sewage grinder pump reservoirs are rather small and will pump the ejector tank after a few uses of plumbing fixtures.

If you are leaving the toilet and grinder pump un-used for weeks or longer I suggest running sink, shower or tub clean water into the pump reservoir until you hear it cycle twice. That should leave relatively clean, low-odor-source water in the grinder pump reservoir.

Sewage Grinder Pump Service & Maintenance Procedure FAQs

Tip: See details at SEWAGE PUMP MAINTENANCE

How do I empty out the septic or sewage pump tank so I can repair the float?

How to I drain the overflowing sewage so I can get to the pump and float? On 2020-06-27 by frankocorso

Explanation by (mod) - Sewage Grinder Pump Regular Inspection & Maintenance

Watch out: Typical grinder pump owners guides warn that you should not try to repair the system yourself. If you're not properly trained and equipped there are health and safety hazards such as risk of electrical shock or fire, or exposure to sewage pathogens that could make you seriously ill.

Your service tech might be able to use a pony pump or portable pump to lower the liquid effluent enough to get to your sewage pump but I think if I were faced with that dilemma I would Ira septic country to come and pump the tank out and removed as much sewage as possible.

While you've got the grinder pump open that's a great time to have your service tech both inspect the system and to perform regular maintenance.

Posted by the Hamilton Township Municipal Authority, here's an Environment One E-One Sewer Pump Owner's Guide [PDF] - local backup copy saved as E-1-Sewage-Pump-Owners-Guide.pdf

More instructions and manuals are at SEWAGE PUMP BUYERS GUIDE & MANUALS

What do do when shutting down a grinder pump

I will be leaving the house vacant for six months. What should I do to maintain the system? Should I manually fill it, use Rid Ex and unplug? (Oct 12, 2015) Becky s

Reply:

Watch out: Unplugging the grinder pump would prevent motor burn-up should some other failure occur that caused the pump to run continuously when no one is home, but as long as electrical power to your home is being left on, you should leave power to the grinder pump on as well.

That will handle more subtle events that can avoid a flood in the building such as a running toilet or a dripping faucet, or use of sink or toilet by someone who comes into the home to check on it while youyr'e gone.

It might be nice to run enough fresh water through the grinder pump that it cycles a time or two to clean and then (mostly) empty the pumping chamber.

Watch out: I would not add any chemicals or treatments.

Rid-X is a root killer that has nothing to do with grinder or septic pump maintenance.

Are chemicals required to dissolve sewage in a pump system?

John said:
Are chemicals used in sewage pump systems to dissolve solid waste?

Reply:

Not normally, John. Certainly not in regular use.

The sewage pump uses a grinder to macerate solids that are then pumped out along with the wastewater.

Septic System Installer or Inspector Certification & Licensing FAQs

What are the requirements for septic inspector or pump service person licensing or certification

For servicing and replacement of commercial Septic Sewage Grinder-Ejector Pumps, which 'certifications' are necessary?

For example, master/journeyman plumber, etc.. On 2018-01-10 by Ruth

Answer by (mod) - some states or provinces license septic system inspectors or installers; levels of certification.

Ruth,

The requirement for licensing and "certification" of technicians or others to install, service, or repair septic systems, including sewage grinder pumps depends on the country, state or province, and possibly city where you live.

Typically in the U.S. state building codes require that an installer be licensed (licensed plumber or licensed septic installer or licensed professional engineer) or "certified" though just what is involved in a certification program varies significantly.

Licensing: here is an example from Erie County in New York State

As of July 1, 2012, if you are in the process of constructing a new home in Erie County that needs to have an onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS),

then you must hire a licensed design professional (i.e. a licensed professional engineer, a registered architect, or a licensed land surveyor with an exemption certificate (Section 7208n of New York State Education Law)) to design the appropriate system to serve your residence.

The design professional will create an engineer’s report and plans that must be submitted to the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) along with an Application for a Construction Permit for an Onsite Wastewater Treatment System for Residential or Commercial Lots Prepared by a Design Professional and a $300 fee.

Your Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) can provide a list of licensed engineers (a complete list can be found in the phone book). wastewater-treatment-system

Some U.S. states require special certifications, (licensing fee, training and an exam) for specific septic system types such as aerobic systems and drip irrigation systems.

Fewer U.S. states also require that a septic system or tank installer have a business license.

Nearly all U.S. states require a plumber's license, though some jurisdictions may permit the plumbing work to proceed by any contractor provided proper permits and approvals are obtained.

In addition, most jurisdictions require a permit and approval of septic system design before a system can be installed, a permit to install a septic tank and absorption field, and a building permit for significant plumbing system installation and possibly renovation. Those steps provide additional protection for homeowners.

An example of a manufacturer's septic or sewage grinder / ejector pump certification program that at least claims to be thorough is provided by a maker of grinder pumps and sewage systems equipment:

Environment One Corporation, 2773 Balltown Road, Niskayuna, NY 12309-1090 T: 518.346.6161 Website: https://www.eone.com

Excerpt:

What is required to become certified?
Personnel

Annual Evaluations — technicians must pass a rigorous examination about all aspects of grinder pump service, and must be re-certified each year.

Level-based Certification

Level I — field troubleshooting, site inspection, startup

Level II — pump diagnosis, failure analysis, repair

Level III — Certified training, the same training you receive from an E/One factory technician

Other Sewage Pump Maintenance Q&

Sewage ejector pump failed and the basin has oily water - from the washing machine?

My ejector pump went out and the basin was filled with oily water.

Why? Where did that oil come from? The broken pump? which I replaced. Could my washing machine water which drains into the basin, have oil in it? Could that mean my washing machine is about to break down? Where did that oil come from? On 2014-01-29 by Pete

by (mod) - signs of septic pump failure

Pete,

I'm guessing that the pump motor failed and you are seeing pump lubricants in the basin.

Certainly a washing machine motor and transmission also contain oil. We've seen oil inside the cabinet or even on the floor beneath a failed washing machine.

But how oil from components that are below the washer tub (the tub bearing, pump or transmission) enters the washer tub and from there would be pumped to a drain is more interesting.

A bad seal on a top loading or front loading washing machine tub may allow bearing lubricant into the washing water. I've seen this show up as surprising new black or dark brown stains on clothes that have ploveed through a wash cycle. A washing machine "hub and seal kit" can often repair this problem that may also show up as squeaks and squeals when the washer is running.

Conversely, I think that most transmission oil leaks (from a washing machine) drip to the space below the appliance. On some washer transmissions such as Whirlpool, there are two transmission seals, a top transmission cover seal and an input shaft seal - both of which can be replaced.

Some washing machine transmissions have a fitting through which transmission oil can be added, but doing so without fixing the transmission oil leak would be pointless IMHO. Replacing an entire washing machine transmission is possible (I've done it in the past) but the cost can be about half the cost of a new machine.

If you are not a do-it-yourself'er (or maybe even if you are) you may still be able to diagnose this problem far enough to decide whether or not to call an appliance repair person.

Look at the floor beneath your washing machine, look inside the washing machine body at the upper surface of its bottom floor (more trouble), and look in the washer as well as on clothes that went through the washer for signs of oil or grease stains.

Since we're talking about your sewage ejector pump basin, keep in mind that any oil source in the building would end up there. But the washing machine is a good start. Keep us posted.

How to Stop toilet paper from clogging the float switch in our septic tank?

What can i use to prevent toliet paper from clotting up and sticking on the float switch holding it in the down (off) position? the toloet paper is getting very hard as well. is there an additive i can flush down the toliet to stop this? On 2012-07-16 by Randall

Answer by (mod) -

Randall,

Let's start by making sure that you have the proper type of sewage grinder pump installed. I ask because these pumps and their controls are designed to handle toilet paper as well as solid waste (feces) by grinding that waste and sending it out the outlet line.

You should not have to put any additive or chemical into the grinder pump to avoid a clog problem, and worse you risk contaminating or damaging a septic or sewer system if you do so.

Check the brand and model of your pump and then take a look at the manufacturer's literature to see what that pump is intended for. Or tell me that information and I'll research it as well.

by Randall

Hi Dan its Randall. thank you for the info. the grinder pump will pump out solid waste and toliet paper. the only thing is that it seems as if the toliet paper that doesnt pump out sits in the holding tank and gets hard over a period of about six months of on going use.

when i clean it out i get clumps out bigger than softballs and as hard as a rock. thats a problem, and it sticks to the float switch and holds it in the down position. do you have an email adress where i can send you some pics of when i open it up this evening so youll understand?

Answer by (mod) -

Randall, use the CONTACT US link at page top or bottom to send some sharp (if icky) photos, and perhaps if you can add the manufacturer name and model number of your system we can ask the manufacturer what's going on. Include some more distant shots showing how the plumbing is arranged.

Normally I expect a grinder pump to have enough pumping force to draw all of the waste down and into the unit - perhaps on a rarely-used system things are not moving through the little holding tank and are coagulating?

 

Can a sewage ejector pump service a kitchen drain that has a grease trap?

Can a sump pump be connected for a commercial kitchen line that is run to a grease trap? On 2012-06-06 by John

Answer by (mod) -

John

If I have the correct understanding of your case, the grease trap is usually located quite close to the commercial kitchen sink itself in order to avoid clogging downstream piping & equipment.

If you have to pipe kitchen waste to a more distant drain where the grease trap is installed, check with your pump supplier to be sure to choose the proper pump type that can handle food waste; an ordinary "sump pump" is used for moving water only, not food waste and grease.

How often should a sewage grinder pump run?

Are these pumps supposed to run all the time or just when water is being used? On 2012-05-01 by Charlene

Answer by (mod) -

Charlene, most grinder pumps do not run every time the water is being used but rather are turned on and off by a float control inside the receiving tank. If your pump is running constantly the float switch needs repair or replacement.