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    jeweltrae's Avatar
    jeweltrae Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Sep 18, 2008, 05:04 PM
    What is an overhead sewer system and what does it cost to install in a house?
    I have a sump pump and it does not seem to work well.Also my washing machine empties to the big tub and drains into the sump well... is that right?I l also have a problem with the pump well smelling yucky and it seems to make our washing machine smell .We clean clothes in the washer and they smell good but the washer has a welly odor... so far we are pouring 1/2 gallon of bleach on occasion to get rid of odor but does this do damage to sump pump long range?I am very interested in overhead sewer install but know nothing about it nor costs incurred for product itself and install and labor cost .My neighbor has it and so does a friend but they are not sure how it works but it works very well and had the system installed many years ago.I was wondering if overhead is installed if we don't need the sumppump and the floor could be closed up?Could we get some advice and some knowledge from someone that really knows about this system?Thanks
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
    Senior Plumbing Expert
     
    #2

    Sep 18, 2008, 05:23 PM
    Jeweltrae:

    An overhead sewer system is a gravity flow system that I am pretty sure most of the fixtures in your home are draining into. This gravity flow system will connect into the city/town sewer system or a septic tank.

    Any fixtures located below the level of this gravity flow system need to have waste water pumped above the level of the gravity flow system where it will then drain by gravity flow to the sewer/septic system.

    Is the big tub and the washing machine the only fixtures on this sump pump? Where does the sump pump discharge too..? Is there a bathroom that drains into the sump pit?

    Let me know so we can discuss in more detail...

    MARK
    Milo Dolezal's Avatar
    Milo Dolezal Posts: 7,192, Reputation: 523
    Plumbing Expert
     
    #3

    Sep 18, 2008, 05:30 PM
    Mark asks you the right questions. In addition to his inquiries: Do you have P-trap on your washer drain ?

    I would not use too much of bleach since it may damage your sewer ejector pump. Sewer ejector lid should be properly sealed and all cables and pipes penetrating its lid are enwrapped with cut-to-size rubber washer. Do you have those installed ?
    jeweltrae's Avatar
    jeweltrae Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Sep 18, 2008, 08:16 PM
    I am not sure what p-trap on washer drain is.But the water from kitchen sink and washing machine go out into sump pump pit out into sewer main .I am still looking for info about pro and con on having overhead versus just sump pump and needing to know if you have overhead installed would you still need sump pump and pit?Looking for info also on cost to have overhead installed .
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
    Senior Plumbing Expert
     
    #5

    Sep 19, 2008, 03:39 AM
    Jeweltrae:

    There are no pros or cons to explain here... you already have an overhead sewer system installed in your home. You use it every day to gravity drain all the toilets and sinks in your home.

    When I say gravity drain I mean that water is flowing from the toilets/sinks, etc. to the city sewer by gravity flow, i.e. it needs no assistance from a pump.

    Any fixtures located below the level of this gravity drain system need to have waste water pumped above the level of the gravity drain system where it will then drain by gravity flow to the sewer system.

    So, if these fixtures (sink, washing machine, big tub) are below the level of the main sewer pipe (overhead sewer system) then you cannot change that and need to continue pumping all this up and into sewer.

    You say you have a kitchen sink draining into the pit... and a washing machine and a big tub..? Are you talking about a sewage ejector system with a large pit underground? Does this pit have a cover over it? Are there 2 pipes coming out of this pit?

    Answer these questions please.

    A ptrap looks like the picture below.

    Let us know if this made more sense?

    MARK
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    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
     
    #6

    Sep 19, 2008, 04:50 AM
    Mark's bang on! Answer his questions about your sump pit. If it's open no wonder you have a odor problem. An overhead sewer is a system in which all sewage from above-ground level flows by gravity to the Village sewer, but all sewage and storm water collected below grade in the basement must be pumped up to the house sewer at a connection near the basement ceiling. There are no direct connections between the main sewer system and the basement, so there is no way for the sewage to backup into the basement area.
    Although an overhead system is very effective in eliminating basement backups, the plumbing charges required make it a costly solution. However, it is still a good choice for homeowners who have a substantial investment in finished basements or who have valuable equipment or storage items housed in the case.
    One disadvantage of an overhead system is that the pumps used to force the water up from the basement level will not operate during a power outage, so overflow could occur if the power is out for an extended time. Even so, the overhead system in most cases is the most effective way to prevent basement flooding. Regards, tom
    KISS's Avatar
    KISS Posts: 12,510, Reputation: 839
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    #7

    Sep 19, 2008, 07:47 AM
    There is a difference between a "sump pump" and a "sewage ejector pump". Sump pumps are reserved for pumping storm water and "sewage ejector pumps" move sewage from a lower point than where the sewer line enters the house.

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