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siandjas · Dec 4, 2008, 09:14 PM

I just purchased a home that utilizes a sewer ejection pump for all of the plumbing in the house. Where the vent pipe comes up out of the seal on the floor it comes up about 2 feet above the floor and then it is capped? There is absolutely nowhere above that capped vent pipe where it could have ever been vented? Is it possible I have a safe system although it is not vented? Can I safely vent this out the side wall of my basement if it does need to be vented. I have no other idea how I could affordably vent this system any other way. The previous owner did have 2 separate smoke eater type fans in the basement ceiling that vented outside. I'm wondering if that had anything to do with the non venting?

Milo Dolezal · Dec 5, 2008, 12:31 AM

Siandjas, the sewer ejector has to be vented. No way around it. Period. It should have 2" vent. You need to extend that capped stub out outside and above the roof.

siandjas · Dec 5, 2008, 05:14 AM

Is there a way to run a vent out the basement wall and then go up to the roof. It appears thaat they have been running this system without a vent for a while . Is there any type of air testing we can do until we get it vented to make sure we are not in danger?

speedball1 · Dec 5, 2008, 06:09 AM

Milo's bang on. The pit must be vented for it to work properly. You may run the vent out the basement and terminate it. However, the end must be screened and you may not terminate under a windrow, door or any such opening.

it appears thaat they have been running this system without a vent for a while . Is there any type of air testing we can do until we get it vented to make sure we are not in danger?

No danger here! Without a vent the system will not operate as it should. Actually you should have two vents. One vent for the fixtures and another dedicated vent for the pit. Good luck, Tom

Milo Dolezal · Dec 5, 2008, 11:03 AM

Yes, you can run sewer ejector vent from the pit horizontally to the outside at no less than 1/4" per foot, up-slope from the pit. This section of pipe can be plastic. Once outside, mount the vent pipe on side of the house and continue 12" above the eve line. Place 2" roof flashing where you have to penetrate roof. Exterior pipe should be metal, like, Cast Iron, Galvanized, or Copper. Don't use PVC or ABS for this situation. Use No Hub coupling to connect Plastic and Metal pipes. Attach vertical section of vent with clamps every 6' to the wall.

siandjas · Dec 8, 2008, 10:18 AM

Thanks for all of the answers. I was given some advice by a local plumber that although it is not code... I could use one of those cap type vent that only lets air in and not out? He said more and more applications are using these types of vents.

massplumber2008 · Dec 8, 2008, 10:39 AM

Siandjas...

Sorry, but that plumber is wrong. Never mind the fact that it isn't code, but the sump pump will not work properly or the toilet/sink will bubble as system tries to replace air needed to pump up solids...

I strongly recommend that you install the vent properly to outside air... ;)

Let me know..

MARK

siandjas · Mar 20, 2009, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by massplumber2008

Siandjas...

Sorry, but that plumber is wrong. Never mind the fact that it isn't code, but the sump pump will not work properly or the toilet/sink will bubble as system tries to replace air needed to pump up solids...

I strongly recommend that you install the vent properly to outside air...;)

Let me know..

MARK

Mark, Iknow it's been a while since I made this initial post but I wanted to fill you in on what's going on. I installed a studor vent for the hell of it and it seems to be working fine. I have no bubbling in the toilets or sinks and the pump seems to be working fine. But like I said before appearently the prevoius owner of the home had been running the system like this for years. There never was really any issues with the operation (I don't know why?) but now the plastic cover that used to move slightly due to a vaccuum effect is gone now that I have installed the studor vent.

speedball1 · Mar 21, 2009, 09:01 AM

I installed a studor vent for the hell of it and it seems to be working fine

But on what vent did you install it. If it was installed on the fixture vent then great but if you installed it on the pit vent,( you do have two vents don't you?) then it's on the wrong vent. Here's why. A fixture only pulls air in so a Studor Vent will work just fine, however the pit vent expels air as the fixtures discharge into the pit but Pulls air in as the pit pumps out to the main. So the [pit vent both pulls air in and vents it out. A Studor Vent only allows air to come in. Please describe your venting configuration. Regards, Tom

siandjas · Mar 21, 2009, 09:11 AM

Yes I installed it right on top of the pit cover. There are two PVC lines coming out of the pit. The first one is a discharge and the 2nd one goes up to the basement ceiling and has a studor vent at the top? Where would I find the vent you are referring to? Thanks again for your help

fredbart · Oct 27, 2010, 11:34 AM

My lift station with sewage ejector pump is in unfinished, dirt-floor basement (really large crawl space) under house built on slope toward lake. It has two PVC pipes exiting, one is the discharge pump-out where the grinder pump sends the waste water out to the sewage system, and the other is top center of the tank (not a "pit" in the floor, but a free-standing fiberglass canister with loosely fitted top maybe 36" across and 36" high). The "vent" pipe comes up and after a right angle opens into the unfinished basement. Basement is concrete block with brick outer veneer with a dozen or so openings for ventilation.

I have the feeling there are several different violations here, but it's been this way for 10 years and has mostly worked. Now I'm looking for biological/bacterial additive to help keep the tank as clean as possible.

I have no odor problem in basement or house and unless we run dishwasher, bathtub, and clothes washer all at once I rarely have problem with pump's ability to pump out wastewater.

massplumber2008 · Oct 27, 2010, 02:41 PM

Hi Fredbart...

You mentioned a GRINDER PUMP system here... got me to thinking that it is very likely that SIANDJAS had a grinder pump system, too because you can install an AAV on a grinder pump system and all will work properly, but you can't install an AAV on a sewage ejector system as it needs to dispel air out as well as in.

I know how a grinder pump works and I know how to pipe up the inlet and the discharge piping but I have never installed a grinder pump system. In reading up on it, it seems that an AAV is allowed... interesting here!

Anyway, FREDBART... can we help you somehow?

Let us know...

Mark

speedball1 · Oct 27, 2010, 04:18 PM

I'm looking for biological/bacterial additive to help keep the tank as clean as possible.

Toss a couple of yeast tablets in the pit. As Mark asked, Is there anything we can assist you with? Just let us know. Tom

massplumber2008 · Oct 27, 2010, 06:37 PM

This isn't a pit vent, Tom. We are talking about a GRINDER waste water system.

In reading up on these it appears that AAVS are acceptable for venting the grinder system... not the plumbing fixtures... the grinder system.

My GUESS is that the grinder pump only needs air make up... no expulsion of air... maybe?

Looks like we have some reading to do, huh?

Maybe Milo or the other guys have experience with these wastewater grinder systems... maybe?

Otherwise, let's look into this and post back... I'm certainly curious!

Thanks.

macplumb · Mar 21, 2014, 02:49 PM

4 years later... I would imagine the difference is in a sewage ejector pit the check valve acts as a cap. Where in a grinder the air is able to escape into an empty building sewer line on the outgoing side.