I recently bought a 5 year old home. The basement has had a bathroom roughed in, including the container for a sewage ejection pump. The problem I am having is there is an odor coming into the house through the as yet unsed connection. As near as I can tell, the discharge line does have a check valve mounted in it. My question is how does this valve operate? Does it require preasure of water trying to return into the basin to hold the valve closed? Since there is no water in the pipe (bathroom not installed) could this be why I am getting the smell. Thanks.

Hi Artie,

" My question is how does this valve operate? Does it require preasure of water trying to return into the basin to hold the valve closed?"

Check valves come in two flavers. Spring loaded and swing check. The spring loaded my be installed in the vertical position as the spring keeps the flapper in the closed position. The swing check valves rely on gravity to keep the flapper closed and must be mounted in the horizontal position. If any crud or trash gets between the flapper and its seat then the valve is open and will allow liquid or gas to pass. Regards, tom

Thanks for the help Tom!