View Full Version : Sewage Smell in Finished Basement with Ejector Pump
team2009
Dec 6, 2009, 11:39 AM
Hi, I have been having the same problem in my finished basement for the last three years with a Myers pump. I built the house 3 years ago and since then I have had several plumbers here to try to solve the problem. Everyone says that the vent is open and the pipes look fine, but the smell continues. It's like you said, it comes and goes but we can't seem to find a pattern. We have chauked the cover twice and replaced the seal once. I was so happy when I came across your message. Is it difficult to put another vent in at this point? Thank you so much, Team
speedball1
Dec 6, 2009, 01:09 PM
Team you piggybacked onto a two year old post so I gave you your very own.
Is it difficult to put another vent in at this point?
Another vent from where? What vent are you missing? Please explain what you have in detail. Or do you have all the vents and the plumber just tied them all together? Give me something to work with here. Cheers, tom
team2009
Dec 6, 2009, 01:48 PM
Hi Tom, We have one vent pipe coming out of the ejector pump and going up to the roof of the house. You had said the ejector pump should have two separate vents. I thought that meant two separate pipes. I'm confused.
cjenkins56
Dec 6, 2009, 02:12 PM
I have a murray automatic drive year 2000 new belt and right length moves very slow in forward does OK in reverse what is wrong I need help
team2009
Dec 6, 2009, 04:15 PM
[QUOTE=team2009;2118605]Hi Tom, We have one vent pipe coming out of the ejector pump and going up to the roof of the house. You had said the ejector pump should have two separate vents. I thought that meant two separate pipes. I'm confused. Please be patient with me because this has been a very frustrating experience. No one seems to know what the problem is. I put a small apartment in my walkout basement. It has a kitchen sink,tub/shower unit, two bathroom sinks, one toilet and a washer that empties into the ejection pump. The Myers pump itself works fine. It's just the oder that is so difficult to deal with. It is not constant. It seems to come and go but most of the time it is there. Someone said I should put a vent fan in the vent line to help push the stink along. Do you think that would help? The plumber that did the work 3 yrs. Ago when I built the house has moved away. I would appreciate any help that you can give me. Thank You
team2009
Dec 7, 2009, 06:06 AM
I built a home 3 yrs. Ago and put an in-law apartment in the walkout basement. I put a Myers ejection pump in which handles the kitchen sink, dishwasher, tub/shower unit, 2 bathroom sinks, one toilet and a clothes washer. The pump works fine but there is a sewer smell that comes and goes and is very strong most of the time. I have had several plumbers come and look at the situation but everyone says the venting is fine and the pipes all look good. We have caulked the lid on the tank twice and replaced the gasket once. Nothing seems to eliminate the problem. Does anyone know why I would be getting this oder? Please let me know. Thank You
Milo Dolezal
Dec 7, 2009, 06:10 AM
Are all your fixtures trapped ? Any floor drains ?
team2009
Dec 7, 2009, 07:01 AM
There are no floor drains. I don't know what you mean by trapped. Could you please explain? Thank you
cyberheater
Dec 7, 2009, 07:03 AM
Ejector pump should be on it's own vent, separate from other plumbing fixtures. Where is the strongest smell? Where is the pump in relationship to the fixtures that are on it? Do you have a "check valve/backflow" device as well?
Milo Dolezal
Dec 7, 2009, 07:03 AM
Each plumbing fixture requires P-trap. It is a water seal that prevents sewer gas from entering your house. Example: P-Trap is the "goose-neck" pipe under your sink...
Also, any pipe and/or cable penetrating lid of the sewer ejector has to be properly sealed. The lid comes with dedicated rubber seals that fit around pipes and cables and snap into the lid. Are those seals installed or you just simply caulked it ?
cyberheater
Dec 7, 2009, 07:50 AM
I am sure Tom will be back soon.
I believe he means that it should be on it's own vent, separate from any other plumbing vents. Can you say when you smell the oder more? When you use certain fixtures, like a sink or a washer? Where is the stink the strongest? Any other information will help. One common problem is that the connections to the pump coming out are not seal well. There should be a lid on your pump ejector and that lid should also be sealed completely.
Somethimes there is a check valve/backflow preventor that is stuck. (not sure if you have one).
speedball1
Dec 7, 2009, 07:58 AM
everyone says the venting is fine
You should have vents on each fixture trap combining into one roof vent. You should also have a dedicated pit vent that's not connected to anything also going out the roof. Is this how you're set up?
Back tom you, Tom