[jayhg11]

My basement ejector pump has not been fully ejecting all water/waste. It used to make a loud thud when it fully cleared and now I can hear water coming back into sump bin. It has caused a foul smell upstairs at my kitchen sink and my basement toilet bubbles each time pump ejects. Do I have a clog somewhere? Should I open the ejector bin and look for debris clogging.

[massplumber2008]

Hi Jay

That "thud" sound you used to hear was the check valve (or backflow preventer) closing after each cycle of the pump...kept sewage from falling back into the ejector pit. It certainly sounds like that has failed and needs to be replaced and is usually a pretty easy fix.

In terms of the rest of your description, you may have an issue with a clogged vent (ejector should have its own dedicated vent). Here, you get up on the roof (if separated) and run water down the vent via a hose and see if that resolves the issue. If that doesn't fix the issue, then you may need to open the pit up to examine everything.

Start by replacing the check valve and check on the vent. If the vent connects into the plumbing vent system (i.e., is not a dedicated pit vent) then you may need to find it up in the attic, cut the pipe and run water down the vent that way...reconnect using couplings.

Back to you...

Mark

[jayhg11]

Mark, Thanks so much. I checked the valve and it was missing the flap valve that prevents water to back flow. Although the smell is gone - I still think water is back flowing and seems like water is sitting on top of flap. The pit does have a dedicated vent but doesn't appear clogged. Is it possible that the broken off flap valve is lodged in the sewer line? My house was built in 1929 and has had some major basement upgrades and I'm worried that my newer kitchen sink - is attached to basement ejector pit, and that line may be clogged. If that makes any sense to you without inspecting it. My only plumbing vent is way up on roof with a serious pitch. Do you think I could "snake" the kitchen sink pipes and see if its clogged there? Thanks again for knowledge...

[massplumber2008]

If the basement toilet, "bubbles each time pump ejects", it suggests a problem with the ejector vent. Here, the dedicated vent probably goes into the attic and then connects into the main plumbing vent just before exiting the building. You can try to locate it and cut the pipe, flush the pipe and then couple the pipe back and see if that improves things.

If that is easier said than done, then you can also open up the ejector pit and check for the flapper, but it would NOT get into the ejector pipe...would never make it past the pump...;) It would just be in the ejector pit.

You could also snake the drain from above the backflow preventer....can't be too far until it connects into a main drain!!

Always tough online!

Mark

[jayhg11]

Mark, I thought I had it fixed but now - my upstairs kitchen sink fills with the ejected waste and then it drains out. Is it possible that the clog has moved further in the line? Or do you think that's still a symptom of a clogged vent? Thanks again for info... I really don't like calling for help

[massplumber2008]

OK, step at a time here...

Can you chase the kitchen drain out and see if it connects into the sewage ejector pit/plumbing or does the kitchen sink drain connect into the main drain of the entire house, or does it connect into a branch drain (branch of pipe off the main drain)? This is an important question because if the kitchen sink drains into a branch drain AND the sewage ejector connects its discharge pipe into the same line then it is the branch drain that is partially clogged...not the line out of the ejector pit. If the kitchen sink drain connects into the main drain AND the ejector system connects into the main drain and you have this issue, then the main drain line is partially blocked (unlikely, but needs to be mentioned).

Chase the kitchen sink drain out and see how it relates to the ejector pit piping...can't tell you anymore until we are clear on how things connect, OK? Venting does not appear to be the issue here!

Back to you...

Mark

[jayhg11]

I have a picture of kitchen sink configuration... Can you post pictures here?

[jayhg11]

[massplumber2008]

You can post pictures, but this doesn't sound like a problem with the "kitchen sink configuration" as much as the problem sounds like it is going to be a problem with how BOTH the kitchen sink and the ejector discharge pipe connect to the main sewer drain in your house...understand?

Here, YOU need to find how these two things connect by following pipes until you find the common pipe. Once you find the common pipe you can decide how to snake/clear that common pipe to the next larger drain that ISN'T having a problem, right??

Back to you.

[jayhg11]

Attachment 45565

[jayhg11]

This house has had so many renovations that all pipes are hidden within ceiling. The ejector pipe heads under house towards that kitchen sink and then out to main line. I know where main line goes out but only there - as pipes from sink on out are hidden

[jayhg11]

Attachment 45566

[jayhg11]

Attachment 45567

[jayhg11]

The larger vertical drain is working properly - it runs the older fixtures in the house. The left pipe in first picture is the newer line that I believe runs the ejector pump basin