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sewer ejector works, the the drain wont drain

17 years ago

My sewer ejector in the basement is working, but as soon as it goes off, the water is coming right back into the hole in the basement floor. It is almost as if the water is being pushed back into the pipes because black stuff is coming up through the toilet and tub. The pump itself is working I just wondered if maybe the actual drain that is in the bottom of the hole there where the pump is clogged?

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pinocchio
17 years ago
First, letÂs make a clearer picture of the layout and terms to use. That Âhole in the basement floorÂ should be the sealed crock into which black water flows. When the water level is high, the ejector pump starts and begins to empty the crock, pushing the effluent upward.

This effluent has weight and, were it not for the pump, tends to fall back. Since the pump is expected to stop at the low set-point, there needs to be a way to keep that ÂheadÂ from returning. And that is a Âcheck valve,Â situated near the crock. It will have a flapper inside, which swings open under pressure and slams shut under the back-pressure.

It keeps the black water above the valve, and keeps the crock clear enough to receive new effluent. The fact that you are receiving black water in the toilet and traps means that the system is full and unable to hold the back-flow before stopping. The check valve is not stopping back-flow.

If your pump has piggy-back cords, it will run the motor, subject to the switch setting in the crock. You can temporarily over-run the motor by plugging into the electrical outlet instead of the piggyback. This will lower the water level below the low-set point and tend to empty the excess in the feeder lines.

(The pump and motor are cooled by the waters in the crock. You must be careful not to let the motor over-heat by running continuously without sufficient water. That is called ÂcavitationÂ and has sound that is identifiable as air in the water.)

If the check valve does not close when the power is removed Â which you should be able to hear Â it means the valve is either clogged or defective, possibly with the flapper missing.

You can partially purge the crock of black water by running the pump as stated and feed clear water to the feeders, by simply watering the traps and toilet from a garden hose. (Keep the hose end away from the drains or the fixtures. ÂPourÂ the water in, to prevent cross-contamination.)

Once you are dealing with cleaner waters, you can again check to see if any clog in the check valve has cleared or begin to replace this valve. To accommodate that eventuality, the system should have yet another valve just beyond the check, which when closed will allow the system to be opened for repairs, one of which will someday be the pump.

Pinoke
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