Septic Grinder & Sewage Ejector Pump FAQs

Sewage grinder pump on conventional septic?
Sewage pump chamber repair
Sewage pump check valves
Sewage pump won't stop running

Septic / Sewage Pump Check Valve FAQs

Troubleshoot a leaky Check valve on sewage ejector pump

In my basement bathroom my sewage injector pumps come on every 15-30 minutes. I have a check valve on the discharge side. Is the check valve leaking back? causing the injector pump to come ? The pump is less than a year old. - Tyuan Rice

Reply: Sewage ejector pumps and check valves

Tyuan,

Indeed it's not unusual for a check valve on a sewage ejector pump to become sticky or clogged, allowing sewage to drain back into the pump and thus causing the pump to come on more frequently than desired.

Worse, depending on piping arrangement in the building, other wastewater from other fixtures higher in the building may drain backwards into and even clog the check valve.

So if your sewage ejector pump is cycling even when the fixtures that drain directly into that pump system are not in use, I suspect in-drainage from other parts of the building.

Septic pumps, sewage pumps, or sewage ejector pumps, which we discuss in detail beginning at SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMPS, are designed to remove sewage from a building where plumbing fixtures and their drains are lower than the building sewer line and/or septic tank.

Water Sounds After the Sewage Pump Stops & Noisy Pump

I have a sewer ejector pump which serves the lower level of my home and pumps seweage up to the main sewer line.

It is extremely noisy when it shuts off and I can also hear the water running throughit and back down into it once it shuts off.

What, if anything, can be done to lessen or eliminate the noise? Thank you On 2017-12-19 by Bruce -

(mod) - drainback noise suggests a check valve has failed.

The drainback noise suggests a check valve has failed.

The noisy pump, if that's a change, suggests a failing pump motor or perhaps loose components. There may also be a problem of noise transmission of pump vibration via the piping into the building structure. Try using noise isolating pipe clamps and hangers on any piping in contact with the building structural frame.

How do I check the check valve on a sewage pump?

How do I check the check valve?

Grinder pump runs in my basement and it pumps the liquid out it comes back through the vent pipe On 2019-05-13 by Jeff

Answer by (mod) -

Jeff: to check out the operation of the check valve on a sewage pump

Listen for drain-back when the pump stops running.

Or open the pump chamber and watch what happens at the end of a pump-on cycle.

If, after the pump shuts down you see and hear effluent running back into the chamber then the check valve is stuck open or is not installed.

Can a bad check valve or debris stuck in the check valve cause the sewage ejector pump to stay on without pumping water out?

Can a bad check valve or debris stuck in the check valve cause the sewage ejector pump to stay on without pumping water out? On 2017-02-24 by D B

by (mod) -

Yes if the pump is simply unable to move waste out past the check valve the pump may simply keep running - until the motor burns up.

Frozen drain or check valve on Liberty submersible pump

Have a Libery 370 series submersible pump. It was installed outside of the crawlspace and has been working well for about a year. Today we woke to extremely cold temps (ice in the canal in front of the house) and the alarm on the pump blaring.

There is no code given on the alarm. Could this be that something has gotten "frozen" and needs to warm up? We do not have an owners manual. Is there a way to turn off the alarm other than disconnection at the breaker? Thanks. On 2017-01-08 by Ray

by (mod) -

Ray

Yep. I suspect that the pump or its exit piping or check valve is frozen. You can turn off power to the pump. That might, if it's not too late, avoid destroying it. Just turning off the alarm sounds like a bad idea.

Zoeller grinder pump check valve noise complaint

Had a Zoeller grinder pump replaced at my house. 2 story house. The pump services the below grade level and it looks like they original builder dropped a far kitchen drain in their as well.

The old pump was audible throughout the house and to some extent when the check valve close.

The plumber said the old check valve was horizontal and he changed that to a vertical configuration.

Now it's loud as all get out when the valve closes. Plumber says horizontal check valve is not ideal is more easily blocked open. Is there way to slow the closure of the check valve so there is not so much hydrostatic shock.

Now, it reverberates throughout most of the house. I'm worried that is causing way more stress than before. (June 26, 2014) Jason

Reply:

Jason

Thanks for the question, sorry I don't have a good answer. You may be describing a water hammer problem - usually occurring on water supply piping not drains.

I'd give Zoeller a call to ask their opinion about the cause before just treating the symptom.

If the installer failed to drill or clear out the required weep opening in the discharge pipe below the check valve that could also be a problem.

Details ar at SEPTIC PUMP INSTALLATION

Keep us posted as what you learn will assist others.

Sewage Pump Check Valve or Drain Blockage FAQs

With new Sewage Pump, Every time our water softener regenerates, we have sewage odor and about 1/2 inch of wastewater come up in both kitchen sinks,

We recently had our basement grinder pump replaced. Now everytime our water softener regenerates, we have sewage odor and about 1/2 inch of wastewater come up in both kitchen sinks, then immediately go down.

Happens 2 or 3 times during the softener cycle.

Septic repairmen have tried adjusting float, jetting the inlet pipe, etc. They are stumped. Any suggestions appreciated. On 2016-11-18 by Kelly

by (mod) - you're probably describing a clog or blockage problem

Kelly

This doesn't sound very nice, I agree. If the water softener has always drained into the grinder pump and thus all that changed is the pump, I

suspect an installation error such as a bad check valve. Other possibilities include a clogged drain.

I would start by watching the grinder pump go through a cycle. If wastewater is entering the pump and the float should be turning it on, but it's not running, then the problem is in the switch or control for the pump.

If the pump runs but the pit doesn't empty quickly, then the pump is defective, or there's a bad checkvalve or the drain is blocked.

Less likely: the rate at which your water softener sends water into the sewage pump chamber is greater than the pump's capacity: in that case you'd need a more powerful sewage pump.

Sewage Pump Won't Empty, Alarm Sounds, but Pump is OK

I've been having problems with my sewage. The light and alarm has been coming on every few weeks for the last 3 months. The sewer company comes out every time on a service call. First 3 or 4 times they kept telling me that there was baby wipes clogging the system.

I don't even buy or use baby wipes or any type of wipes for that matter. They ended up replacing the grinder/pump and whatever else is inside the tank.

It was fine for about 4 weeks then the alarm came on again just 2 days ago.

Guy came out and said that the float was stuck.

Now we have noticed all our sewage is overflowing from the tank. The guy said our pump and everything is working properly and he doesn't know what the problem is that it has to be something out at the road.

So we here we are don't know what to do. Can't get ahold of anyone at the local sewage plant because of the holidays and by the time they are back I the office it will be 4 days of our sewage overflowing into our yard. I'm worried it will start backing up into my house and don't know what to do. Suggestions please! On 2017-12-30 by Devin -

by (mod) - diagnostic suggestions: If the impeller isn't blocked or damaged look for a clogged drain line or sticking check valve

Try calling a drain cleaning service to use a sewe line camera to inspect your sewer line house to septic tank and septic tank to distirbution box.

If there's a blockage they can try to unblock the line.

Keep in mind that a stuck float is a completely different problem - not a clog of piping nor pump.

If the sewage levels are abnormally high in the septic tank or if there is effluent flooding the D-box then your septic drainfield is blocked or has failed.

Use of Sewage Grinder Pump on Conventional Septic System FAQs

Loud noise traced to old sewage pump in basement. I disconnected it and now have septic problems.

I bought a home built around 200 yrs ago. im a plumber an have a problem. i had owned my home a few yrs an in the bacement i heard a loud noise.

When i went down i found an old pump running. I had thought it had been out of use for some time by the looks of it. I disconnected it.

I'm having problems now with septic in home. is the any way this pump has anything to do with the septic or field ? (June 17, 2014) Gregory King

Reply: grinder pump or de-watering pump may have caused septic drainfield failure

Gregory,

Some septic systems use pumps for various applications including the grinder pumps discussed above on this page.

If the pump you found was intended to move sewage to the septic tank then you should see it connected to the building main drain.

Watch out: if your pump is a sewage pump that was simply moving sewage to the septic tank without much grinding or macerating then it'd probably be OK, but if your pump was a grinder pump that sent fine-ground waste into a conventional home septic tank and drainfield system, those small solids tend to flow out into and clog and thus ruin the septic drainfield.

Watch out: if your pump was for a basement or crawlspace de-watering system, in our terms, a "sump pump" (not a septic pump nor grinder pump) then it too may have damaged the septic system by flooding the septic tank and drainfield with water.

I'd need a more complete description or some photos to offer more - you can send photos to us at our CONTACT link found at page bottom.

Can you use a grinder pump of some sort in a septic system.

Can you use a grinder pump of some sort in a septic system. I would like to install a full bathroom below the existing level of the waste line exiting the house. Thanks On 2018-02-07 by al G -

by (mod) - Warnings about the Effect of using a sewage grinder on a private septic system:

Al

Effect of using a sewage grinder on a private septic system:

Bottom line:

Do not use a sewage grinder pump on a home connected to a private septic tank and drainfield.

You can (usually) use a sewage ejector pump on a home connected to a private septic tank and drainfield.

What's the difference between a sewage grinder and a sewage ejector pump?

The sewage grinder pump macerates or grinds up solids into a fine particle slurry.

The sewage ejector pump can handle solid waste and move it to a septic tank without grinding the waste to very small bits.

Details:

I advise against using a sewage *grinder *pump on homes connected to a private septic system (tank and soakaway bed or drainfield or seepage pit). The concern would be pushing ground solids out into the drainfield.

A grinder pump macerates the sewage to a fine particulate slurry. These pumps are normally used to move sewage up to a public sewer line that is higher than the building's lowest toilets and other fixtures.

A sewage grinder pump connected to a municipal sewer has higher lift capacity and longer push capacity than a sewage ejector pump I'll describe next. The grinder pump can lift waste up as much as 130 ft. and can push it horizontally for over 1000 feet.

You can see this is what you might need to push waste from a building to a public sewer main that is uphill and some distance from the home.

In some communities multiple homes may pump to a central station that uses even larger pumps to move that waste to a more-distant and uphill public sewer main.

Similarly for garbage grinders (in sinks) that's also been a topic of some concern and argument when connected to a private septic system. https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Garbage_Disposer_Guide.php GARBAGE GRINDERS vs SEPTICS -

However you can usually use a sewage ejector pump with a private septic system.

The sewage ejector pump uses a different pumping technology that uses an impeller rather than a grinder blade to move blackwater (toilet waste) to the building drain system and septic tank. A good quality sewage ejector pump can handle solids up to 2" in diameter. The ejector pump can also handle higher wastewater volumes than a typical grinder pump, again depending on the model 100-200 gpm, so the pump can handle other wastewater such as from tubs, showers, laundry.

A sewage ejector can lift as high as 75 ft. and push as far as 750 feet DEPENDING on the horsepower of the pump involved and perhaps also its design.

Watch out: DO NOT use a simple effluent pump nor a sump pump for handling blackwater. The pump will clog and die.

More details are at SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMPS - home
https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Grinder_Pumps.php

Also see GRINDER PUMP FAQS [PDF] https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Grinder-Pump-FAQs-Groton-CT.pdf
published by the Groton CT Department of public works, retrieved 2018/02/08, original source: http://www.groton-ct.gov/depts/pubwks/docs/Grinder%20Pump%20Website%20info%20the%20hurricane.pdf

Sewage Pump Won't Stop Running FAQs

Sewage pump runs all the time - when should the grinder pump cycle on and off?

Are these pumps supposed to run all the time or just when water is being used? - Charlene 5/1/12

Reply:

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.

Sewage Pump Chamber or Tank Repair FAQs

Is it possible to repair a leaky sewage grinder pump holding tank?

I have a crack in the bottom of my grinder pump holding tank which is allowing some dirt and debris into the tank. Other than complete removal and replacement of the tank from my concrete basement floor, do I have any other options to seal or repair this crack/leak? - R.H. 1/14/13

Reply by (mod):

It may be possible to empty the sewage grinder pump tank, clean and dry it, and repair the crack using an epoxy crack repair product or for plastic tanks, using a fiberglass patch - depending on tank material, but

Watch out: leaning over any septic tank or cesspool, even a small grinder pump tank that has contained sewage can result in death by asphyxiation; also if there are sparks or a nearby flame, the result can be a methane gas explosion;

Do we need to replace the sewage ejector pump tank in our old house?

We have an old house, ~60 years old. We have a sewage ejector pump sunk into our basement. We've maintained the sewage ejector pump well, and it keeps working.

At any point will the iron tank need to be replaced? We've replaced various parts, but the tank is the original. On 2017-01-29 by Shoe

Reply:

In my OPINION, as long as the septic pumping chamber is undamaged, that is, not leaking, and provided it has a secure (safe) cover, I'd continue using it.

But it's worth a closer look: best would be to run the ejector pump to remove as much wastewater as possible, flush the tank with clean water and pump that out, then inspect the tank for signs of cracks.

Daniel.