Sewage Ejector Pump
A sewage ejector pump lifts wastewater and solids from a below-grade bathroom or laundry up to the main sewer or septic line when gravity drainage is not possible.
When a fixture sits below the level of the main sewer line, such as a basement toilet or a basement laundry sink, waste cannot flow downhill on its own. The drains feed into a sealed pit called an ejector basin, and when it fills, the ejector pump turns on and pushes the contents up to the gravity drain. The basin is vented so sewer gas escapes through the roof rather than into the room.
An ejector pump is built to pass small solids, usually up to about two inches, which sets it apart from a sump pump that handles clean groundwater only. A float switch controls it the same way, and a check valve on the discharge line keeps lifted waste from draining back into the basin. The sealed lid and proper venting are what keep odors out, so a loose or cracked lid is a common source of basement sewer smell.
These pumps are the workhorse behind almost every basement bathroom that is not on a septic mound system. When one fails, the basement fixtures back up quickly, so a humming or constantly running ejector pump deserves prompt attention.
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