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chadxx · Mar 11, 2009, 02:33 PM

My basement has flooded with sewage a couple of time in the past year and there is a constant bad smell coming from the drain. The only drain I have in my basement is the one for the sump pump and that is where the sewage backs into. I have snaked it out about 50 feet and it has worked both times so I was just wondering why the sump pump drain keeps backing up with sewage? I am really getting sick of cleaning this mess up! Thanks for any advice.

ballengerb1 · Mar 11, 2009, 02:39 PM

Is it possible that this is not actually a sump pump pit but a sewage ejector pit. A normal basement sump pump pit drains ground water from your foundation and is not connected to your sewer system at all.

chadxx · Mar 11, 2009, 03:37 PM

I've never heard of a sewer ejector pit? Why would be one of those in my basement? I know my basement walls leak water in the spring and the pump kicks in. it sits in a pit with the hose coming out to a drain less than a foot away. Its always done a good job of kicking in when the water level comes up but for some reason, like I've mentioned, it has backed up sewer into the basement, not much however, but enough to clean a terrible mess up.

ballengerb1 · Mar 11, 2009, 03:39 PM

Do you actually see sewage draining into the pit via the side inlet pipe or is there some other source. It can't and shoulkd not be able to enter via the discharge pipe out the top of the pit.

chadxx · Mar 11, 2009, 03:51 PM

I've never seen it personally come out but the trial of overflow comes from the drain where the hose goes into the drain and runs down into the pit with the pump is in. if that makes any sense.

mygirlsdad77 · Mar 11, 2009, 03:53 PM

Unless you area allows tieing the sump pump into main drain and you either don't have a check valve, or the check valve on the pump outlet pipe is bad. This would be my guess, your sump pump is tied into house drainage pipe, but your house sewer line is clogged, cuasing waste to backup into the sump pit because you don't have a check valve to prevent this from happening. First install a check vavle, but this may only cause the sewer to back up in the next lowest fixture. Can you take some pictures of your set up, so we will have a better idea of what we are giving advice on? Would help immensely. Thanks.

chadxx · Mar 11, 2009, 04:29 PM

I can take a picture but I'm not sure how I post it on here... any advice?

chadxx · Mar 11, 2009, 04:44 PM

Name: winter carnival 035.jpg
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chadxx · Mar 11, 2009, 04:44 PM

OK, there she be.

ballengerb1 · Mar 11, 2009, 04:46 PM

The big question where does that 4" pipe/hole in the floor go. I doubt that its going to open air outside the basement wall. It may be connected to your sewer line, not allowed in my neck of the woods.

chadxx · Mar 11, 2009, 04:48 PM

When I first bought the house they had a new sewer system put in and the front of the yard was dug up so I'm assuming that it goes into the new sewer system, almost positve actually.

ballengerb1 · Mar 11, 2009, 04:52 PM

If you have sewage coming up through the 4" pipe then you need a check valve like mygirlsdad suggested earlier. That or plug the hole and run the sump line up and out through the foundation to the ground. Out to the ground is all we are allowed to do in my town

chadxx · Mar 11, 2009, 04:54 PM

How would u go about plugging the hole?

chadxx · Mar 11, 2009, 04:54 PM

Is it not normal to have a sump pump line running into your sewer line?

ballengerb1 · Mar 11, 2009, 07:21 PM

Nope not at all, some places its actually illegal and fineable. Sump pumps just expel ground water, its almost clean enough to drink. If you put that into a sewer system somebody/something is treating water that doesn't need any treatment, expensive. In a big rain my sump pump will pump several hundreds, if not thousands of gallons of ground water, that would be like flushing your toilet every 5 minutes for weeks.

mygirlsdad77 · Mar 11, 2009, 08:23 PM

This isn't good. Anywhere. IF you really want to get this fixed, its time to call in a plumber. I hate to say it, but its going to be hard for us to give correct advice(easy fixes) with the setup you have shown in your pics. This setup is just down right wrong. Need to have it looked at by onsight pro to find what the best solution would be. It looks to me like the sump is being dumped into a sewer cleanout. The cleanout is not sealed, therefore you are most likely getting sewer gas from this pipe. I hesitate to give further advice (not knowing what your local code allows, and not being able to see the whole drainage setup, and or options for a good cure). Good luck and please let us know how things work out.

Milo Dolezal · Mar 11, 2009, 08:53 PM

Sump pump should not be connected to sewer. Sewer and sump pump are two separate systems. Sump pump discharge should go to the curb... That 2" open clean out is acting as a sewer vent allowing sewer gas to enter you house. Plug it. It is a health hazard. Find other way to discharge the sump pump. Like, run PVC line to the outside of the house...

chadxx · Mar 12, 2009, 10:03 AM

Thanks for the advice everyone, I've got a plumber friend of mine coming over today to look at it!

mygirlsdad77 · Mar 12, 2009, 03:18 PM

Please let us know what he has to say. Some areas with low ground water do allow tieing sump into sewer(all depends on location). Curious to know how this turns out for you. Good luck.