Me and my husband just bought our first home, when we got the inspection we were told that we had a septic tank and the alarm on the side of the house was light so we should have it pumped. We moved into the home and not a week later we heard a loud beeping noise coming from the side of the house. We called a company to come and pump our "septic tank." We were told that we don't have a septic tank but in fact we have a sewage ejector pump. From what I have read online, only a basement bashroom should need a sewage ejector pump. The tech that pumped our tank stated that all of the water and waste from the house to being collected in a tank that is being pumped to the city sewage system by the ejector pump. We were told that our pump is broken and needs to be replaced for the price of 1800.00 dollars. As new home owners this is a price we use can't afford. I was wondering if there was anything that we can do temporarily to fix the problem of the broken sewage ejector pump? How does one tell if the sewage ejector pump is broken? Is is safe for use to use our two up stairs bathrooms?

Hi smaduro...

Nothing you can do to to temporarily resolve this. Here, if the pump isn't pumping then the pump has to be replaced or cleared of any debris blocking the impeller to the pump.

In most cases like this, plumbers will just replace the pump because if they don't and the cleaned/cleared pump fails they don't want to have to come back and pump the collection pit out at their expense, you know, so they usually just replace the pump.

If, however, the pump is just clogged with say, paper towels, for example, and can be cleared and you are willing to assume responsibility if the pump fails again, then they may just reinstall the old pump for you and with any luck you would be all set... maybe?

Biggest issue here is getting the collection tank pumped and cleaned so someone can climb inside and do the work they need to do, so you can understand why that and a new sewage ejector would cost some money, for sure, huh? ;)

You can use your two upstairs bathrooms if the tank isn't filled to overflowing, but the guy that cleans it out may charge more to empty it... depends on volume of the truck they have available here.

My best advice would be to get a few estimates from other contractors so you know you are getting the best price/best job you can and I wouldn't wait too long... could start to clog the pipes going to the collection tank and that would only add more cost to this already unexpected job.

Finally, don't forget to contact your real estate agent and discuss this as it seems to me that the costs for this job, at a minimum, should be shared between you and the old homeowner....may even be the previous owners issue 100%, depending on the laws in your area.

Care to discuss more? Let me know, OK?

Mark