A sewage ejector pump sits in a basement. It pushes wastewater from basement fixtures up, so the waste can then drain by gravity to the sewer line. That’s the description in the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ floodproofing guide. The guide also says the pump requires maintenance and electricity to work properly. InterNACHI’s Standards of Practice have the inspector flush all toilets and inspect drainage and the drain, waste and vent system. The Standards’ plumbing list doesn’t name an ejector pump.
The consequence shows up when the power goes out. The guide says the pump won’t work during a power outage. It also says this only limits the use of the facilities in the basement that need the pump. A buyer who never asked may not know what the basement toilet depends on. That’s the gap worth closing before you buy. No repair steps here, and no contractor recommendations. This is general information for buyers, not safety, legal or insurance advice.
What Is a Sewage Ejector Pump and What Does It Depend On?
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Guide to Floodproofing describes a sump installed under the basement floor. The sump intercepts sewage flowing from basement fixtures and the basement floor drain. An ejector pump in the sump pushes the sewage up. From there, the guide says, it can drain by gravity into the sewer service line.
The guide lists a precaution with that setup. The ejector pump requires maintenance and electricity to work properly. So a basement fixture that drains this way depends on power and on upkeep.
Outages come up in the guide too. During a power outage, it says, the ejector pump won’t work. But it adds a limit to that. This only limits the use of the facilities in the basement that need the pump. Plumbing fixtures on the first floor continue to drain by gravity to the service line.
The guide’s description includes a check valve in the pipe from the ejector pump. In the guide’s flood setup, if water does go higher, the valve keeps it in the pipes. That’s the guide’s description, not advice. Keep the frame in mind too. The guide covers floodproofing a basement, and the setup it describes is an overhead sewer, with the pump pushing sewage up above the flood level. It explains how this kind of pump works, and it says nothing about any particular house.
Does a Home Inspection Cover the Ejector Pump?
InterNACHI’s Standards of Practice set out a plumbing list. Under the Standards, the inspector shall flush all toilets for proper operation. They also have the inspector check all sinks, tubs and showers for functional drainage. And they list the drain, waste and vent system and drainage sump pumps with accessible floats.
Something else in the Standards’ wording belongs in a buyer’s head before reading a report. Their glossary defines an alarm system as warning devices, installed or freestanding, including but not limited to carbon monoxide detectors, flue gas and other spillage detectors, security equipment, ejector pumps, and smoke alarms. Their general limits say the inspector is not required to operate any alarm systems. That’s the wording. Read your report with it in mind.
During a home inspection, one of our licensed inspectors performs a visual examination of the structure and all major systems. We document every finding with photographs, so nothing is left to guesswork. The basement and the plumbing are among the areas our inspector examines. If the basement has fixtures, that’s a fair thing to ask us about: what will the written report note about the basement plumbing and any pump?
A sump pump is a different pump with a different job. Our post on sump pumps covers it.
What Can’t an Inspection Tell You About the Pump?
The Standards say an inspection will not identify concealed or latent defects. So a report records what could be seen on the day of the inspection. That matters for a pump. In the setup the guide describes, the pump sits in a sump under the basement floor.
A visual inspection can report what’s visible. It can’t show what’s below the floor or inside a wall. And a toilet that flushes doesn’t show how old the equipment behind it is. It doesn’t show how that equipment has been maintained either.
Then there’s the outage question. The guide says the pump won’t work when the power is out. A report can’t tell you how the basement fixtures will behave in that situation. That’s a question for the seller, and, if it matters to you, for a licensed plumber.
What to Ask the Seller About the Ejector Pump
Put the questions in writing, and send them before the contingency clock runs out. A seller may know the pump’s age and history. Those are questions for the seller, and you’ll want the answers in writing.
- Which fixtures drain to the pump: a basement toilet, a laundry, a floor drain.
- How old the pump is, and who installed it.
- What maintenance has been done, and whether there are records.
- Whether the pump has ever stopped working, or the basement fixtures have ever been unusable.
- Whether anyone has worked on the pump or its piping, and when.
The guide’s precaution is the reason dates matter. It says the pump needs maintenance and electricity to work properly. That’s why records are worth asking for.
A written answer from the seller gives you something specific to bring to the inspection and to your real estate agent. Questions about the agreement of sale are for your real estate agent, and pump questions are for a licensed plumber.
What If the Report Mentions the Pump or the Basement Plumbing?
The Standards say inspection reports may include additional comments and recommendations. So a note about the basement plumbing is a prompt, not a measurement. It tells you where to aim your next question.
Ask the inspector what was visible and what wasn’t. Ask the seller what they know about the pump’s history while the contingency window is open. Leave cost and repair questions to the right professional.
The condition of the sewer line itself is a separate question from the pump. You’ll find that one in our post on adding a sewer scope.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ejector Pumps
Does an ejector pump work during a power outage?
No. The guide says that during a power outage the ejector pump won’t work, and that this only limits the use of the facilities in the basement that need the pump. So a basement bathroom that drains through a pump depends on the power being on. Ask the seller how the basement fixtures are plumbed before you close.
Do the upstairs fixtures still drain if the pump has no power?
In the setup the guide describes, yes. It says plumbing fixtures on the first floor continue to drain by gravity to the service line. Remember what that description covers, though. The guide is describing an overhead sewer in a floodproofed basement, not every house. How the house you’re buying is plumbed is a question for the seller.
Does an ejector pump need maintenance?
The guide lists it as a precaution: the ejector pump requires maintenance and electricity to work properly. There’s no schedule in the guide, and none here. Ask the seller what’s been done and whether there are records. Pump questions go to a licensed plumber.
Does a home inspector test an ejector pump?
The Standards have the inspector flush all toilets, check fixtures for functional drainage, and inspect the drain, waste and vent system and drainage sump pumps with accessible floats. Their glossary lists ejector pumps among its examples of an alarm system, and they say the inspector is not required to operate any alarm systems. Our licensed inspectors perform a visual examination of the structure and all major systems. Ask what the written report will note.
Can an inspection tell how old an ejector pump is?
A visual inspection can report what’s visible, and the Standards say an inspection will not identify concealed or latent defects. A fixture that works doesn’t show how old the equipment behind it is, or how it has been maintained. The pump’s age and history are questions for the seller. A written report with photos gives you something specific to bring to them.
Ask About the Pump Before You Close
Inspection Professionals’ written report documents every finding with photographs and is delivered within 24 hours, so you can see the evidence for each finding rather than a summary.
As a general rule, a written inspection report gives you something specific to bring to the seller or to your real estate agent. That’s what turns the basement plumbing from a guess into a conversation.
A full home inspection is the written report to have in hand while you ask.
If you’re buying in Bucks County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia or Delaware County, contact Inspection Professionals to talk through what a full home inspection documents before you weigh a sewage ejector pump in a house you want to buy.