[mpawula]

I've had an ejector pump installed in the basement when we put in a new shower, toilet, sink and laundry; however it goes off several times a day even when the shower, sink, toilet or laundry in the basement has not been used for days. Why is this happening?
Is there a leak somewhere or was the surrounding tile around the house,cut into accidentally or carelessly?
Thanks in advance for your insight.

[ballengerb1]

When the ejector pump was installed was a brand new pit also dug?

[mpawula]

Yes.

[Milo Dolezal]

There is a possibility that there is some other fixture connected to the drain leading to the sewer ejector pit, like a condensation line or filter system. These fixtures constantly discharge water and are connected into your house drain system. Also, your toilet may be leaking.

Another possibility is that there is ground water entering the pit. In this case, you would have to lift the lid and do visual inspection.

Back to you.

Milo

[mpawula]

Thank you. Is it possible that the furnace is somehow draining to cool itself? I called the plumber
Who did the installation and that was the explanation he gave me. I live in Chicago so I am not
Running my air at this time and I do not have a humidifier running along with the furnace. The lid is
Bolted down on the pit, so not easy to get at and anyway I wouldn't know what to look for...
I will turn off the water to the toilet to test that possibility.
Thanks Milo.

[ballengerb1]

Most modern furnaces that are high efficient have a condensate drain line. If this line runs to your pit it would account for a few gallons a day in Chicago but you would see this line. Is there a small mybe 1" pvc or plastic line from the furnace to the pit or floor drain? It is not for cooling the furnace, when you burn gas water is created in the firebox and it condenses and must be drained.

[Milo Dolezal]

Question: is that sewer ejector made of concrete or is it a plastic bucket set in ground ?

[mpawula]

Yes, there is a pvc pipe from the furnace(Goodman)-installed about 4 years ago,
That leads to a floor drain, that same floor drain is used by the new plumbing.
That makes sense.

The new pit for the injector pump was dug into concrete, but probably is plastic.
If ground water is entering the pit what does that mean? Will it wear out the pump prematurely?
Can it be rectified or is it inconsequential?

Thanks,
Mary

[hkstroud]

that same floor drain is used by the new plumbing.
That makes sense.

Please explain that statement.

[ballengerb1]

Slow down a bit. The floor drain and your new ejector pit should not be connected, what makes you believe they are? IF the condensate line goes to your ejector pit it must be trapped but not if it goes to the floor drain.

[mygirlsdad77]

If there is a floor drain, and an ejector pump, I would guess the floor drain is connected to the ejector pit inlet piping underground. Why else have an ejector pump if you have house sewer under the concrete for the floor drain to hook into? Any drain in the basement would go into the ejector pit, including the floor drain, right?

[ballengerb1]

Ejector pit was added during a remodel long after house was built. They added a shower and toilet below grade. Floor drains can be connected to a sump pump or city sewer but since the floor drain was there years before the ejector I must assume it was connected to a sump. You'd have to tear up the floor or have x ray vision to instal a new ejector and hit right onto an existing floor drain line.

[mygirlsdad77]

You may just be right Bob. I guess I jumped the gun and just assumed they added a floor drain with other fixtures. We usually do.