Ask Me Help Desk - Utility tub drain tank

Quote:

Originally Posted by hedgemonster

I have a utility tub with a black tank under the tub.There is a tailpiece connecting the 2.The black tank has 2 electric cords running into it.How do I turn this on so it will drain? It is overflowing and does not come on by itself. Please advise

Sounds like a sewage ejector with a mercury switch.

One should plug into the backside of the other -- If this is the case, plug them into each other and then plug the remaining male end into a GFCI protected outlet.

If it's already plugged into an outlet, check for other GFCI protected outlets in the circuit, if there are, see if they have been tripped, if they haven't or their aren't, then check the service panel for tripped breakers.

Still no joy?

Then plug the cords into a outlet with an extension cord that you know to be hot.

Still no joy?

A) The sewage ejector pump or mercury float switch is points up.

B) The mercury float switch is hung up on something inside the sewage ejector bucket.

C) You have a 'Little Giant' ejector system (or a reasonable facsimile) and the clean-out screens are plugged.

If it's a 'Little Giant' ejector system, then remove the four bolts on the panel on the lid of the system and clean it out.

If it isn't, plug the pump in directly and see if the pump cycles, if it does, then the mercury float switch has failed, if it doesn't, then the pump itself has failed.