Sewer Ejector Pump Installation & Repair in Forney, TX

Gravity is what drives most plumbing, moving wastewater in the direction of the main sewer line. But when a laundry room, bathroom, or some other fixture is situated below that main sewer, gravity is not enough to get the job done. For those situations, a sewage ejector pump is required.

At DWV Plumbing Services LLC we handle the installation, service, and replacement of these pumps for both residential and commercial properties. A well-put-together system will have an ejector pump that draws wastewater from a sealed basin and forces it up into the drainage system.

When Do You Need One?

You will generally find an ejector pump where the plumbing is lower than the property’s main sewer connection.

This is common with:

Below-grade or basement bathrooms
Laundry rooms on a lower level
Commercial or specialty layouts
Any fixtures added under the existing sewer line

In these cases, waste goes into a basin rather than flowing by gravity. The float switch will sense when the water has built up and start the pump to push it through the discharge piping to the septic or main line. Without it, there is no practical way for those fixtures to drain.

Installation

Putting a pump in a basin is only part of the story. A quality installation has to take into account the venting, the basin, the connections, and how the existing plumbing is laid out. We evaluate the whole setup, not just the pump itself, whether you are in need of a new unit or having trouble with an old one.

The check valve is perhaps the most critical element. Once a cycle is complete, there is wastewater left in the vertical pipe above the pump; the check valve keeps it from going back down. If it is missing, the water falls back as soon as the pump stops and the rising level can trigger another cycle right away. It is an unnecessary loop of pumping the same material. We saw this firsthand with a pump that was put in without a check valve. The constant cycling did its number and the replacement failed in under two years. Proper installation means the pump does its work once and leaves it at that.

Signs of Trouble

Any issue with the ejector system will be felt by every fixture tied to it.

Some telltale signs that service is called for are:

Wastewater sitting in the basin
A pump that will not stop running or is turning on and off in quick succession
Backups in a lower-level toilet or drain
Strange noises or odors coming from the system
Leaks around the piping or basin
A float switch that is unresponsive

Should you see wastewater backing up into a bathroom, put the plumbing on hold until we can inspect it. Adding more to a system that has already failed only raises the chance of an overflow.

Repair or Replace?

We start by finding out what has actually given way. It could be the motor, but often the problem lies with the electrical supply, the check valve, or the float. Since many of these are sealed units like sump pumps, if the internal pump is gone, a rebuild is usually not worth the effort. A plumber can make the call on whether a component can be fixed or if a new pump is in order to restore reliable operation.

Ejector Pumps vs. Grinder Pumps

While they all serve to move wastewater when gravity cannot, they are not the same thing. An ejector is for standard duty from a lower level to a higher sewer. A grinder pump is built to break down solids before they go through the discharge. Then you have lift stations for more heavy-duty use. A plumber should assess the elevation change and volume of water to see which is right for the layout.

Maintenance

They are easy to forget about since they are out of sight and doing their job. But a periodic look-over of the float, check valve, and basin can head off a total breakdown. If the pump is running more than it should, do not write it off as normal. That kind of cycling is a red flag for a problem with the system and can put undue wear on the pump.

Sewer Ejector Pump Services in Forney

If your property in Forney, TX has below-grade plumbing that must be forced into the sewer, a sewage ejector is a necessity. DWV Plumbing Services LLC offers full inspection, repair evaluation, and installation for our clients in the area. We will examine the entire arrangement from the check valve to the discharge line to see why things are not working as they should. If your current pump is backing up or has stopped altogether, get in touch with us to arrange for service and a solution that will keep your wastewater moving safely.

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