Diagnosing an ejector pit problem

Tvarr · Aug 16, 2009

I have an ejector pit that overflowed a few months ago. I walked up to the pit and put my hand on the exit pipe and it began to work and I assumed vapor lock. Recently this is happening more and more, I just rattle the exit pipe and it clears it up.

My question: Is this due to

Vapor lock?
Bad check valve?
Ejector pump slowly going bad?
Something else I am not thinking of?

Any help for my piece of mind would be greatly appreciated before I spend the $$ to replace it all (its 10 years old).

Tvarr

Seaofnames · Aug 17, 2009

Check the electrical connections first. Sounds dumb, but could be a loose connection.

I'm not very familiar with ejector pumps and such.

Sponsor · 2022-01-29T12:20:58-0800

Master Plumber Mark · Aug 17, 2009

Zoeller sewage pump

I cant resist this one

if you have a Zoeller sewage pump it is probably a defective switch on the pump....
'
the bi-metal switch gets pitted over a few years and will not make contact., then all you have to do is thump the pipe or lightly jog it and it comes on...

that switch design is very cheap and crummey, I wont even waste my time trying to repair one becasue of all the troubles involved with it...

if it is a Zoeller
you might be able to put a separate switch on the verticle pipe and then tie up the float on the pump into the on position,
plug that wire into the new switch and get by that way..

have fun

hj · Aug 17, 2009

pump

The float switch is probably getting caught on something, possibly an accumulation of grease or soap. bumping the pipe dislodges it and lets it start.

Kordts · Aug 17, 2009

I have had vapor lock, but never in plumbing situations.

hj · Aug 18, 2009

pump

If it were a vapor lock bumping the pipe would have no effect on it. The pump would have to be shut off and restarted to eliminate it.

SewerRatz · Aug 18, 2009

Its more likely what HJ said, the switch is getting caught on something, when you bump the pipe it gets free and floats up and turns on. I am willing to bet its a tethered float switch in the pit.

Diagnosing an ejector pit problem

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