What is the difference between a sump pump and ejector?

This is a very common question I get when showing a home. They see the sump and on the other side of the basement there’s another pump that looks similar and that creates a lot of questions, naturally.

Sump Pump

To put simply, a sump pump has water collected from the soil surrounding the home’s foundation and is typically clear water. When the sump pump is activated it pumps water out of the basement/sump pit and discharges out into your lawn. It is a good idea to have a battery back up for your sump in the event of a power outage. Anyone who has had their basement flood knows very well the price of not having a battery back up for their sump.

Ejector Pump

An ejector pump looks almost identical to a sump pump however, you will notice the difference in an ejector pump because you will see 2 pipes coming out of the lid of the basin. The second pvc piping is connected to a sanity sewer line instead of being discharged into your yard. The ejector pump services a bathroom in your basement, wash tub or laundry in the basement. If your ejector pump stops working you will have less flooding then if you were to have your sump pump fail however, it could potentially be raw sewage or other dirty water. I’m sure you can imagine what a mess that would be if your basement had raw sewage water standing for a period of time on your flooring. It would need to be cleaned immediately to eliminate the threat of health hazards. 

Still confused on which is which? If you are more visual and have to see things first hand then let’s head out and take a look at some homes. I can point out the differences for you to see.  Call/text me at 708-268-0462 or email me here.