Key takeaways
- A sump pump removes groundwater that collects in a pit.
- A backwater valve stops sewage from flowing backward into the house.
- A sewage ejector lifts waste from fixtures below the sewer.
- Each needs a yearly check.
The sump pump
A sump pump sits in a pit at the low point of a basement or crawl space and pumps out groundwater that seeps in. It protects against rain and a high water table. A check valve keeps water from returning to the pit, and a battery backup keeps it running in a power outage.
It does not handle sewage and it does not stop sewer backups. It is a groundwater tool.
The backwater valve
A backwater valve sits in the sewer line and closes if wastewater tries to flow backward from the street. It protects the lowest fixtures during storms that overload the sewer. It has no effect on a clog inside your own line, and it needs to be opened and cleaned regularly.
Basements with floor drains or bathrooms, and homes that have had storm backups, are the usual candidates.
The sewage ejector
When a basement bathroom or laundry sits below the sewer line, gravity cannot carry the waste out. A sealed, vented ejector basin and a solids-handling pump lift it to the main line. It is a sewage tool and not a groundwater tool.
In a Nashville house with a finished basement, you may have all three. Each device protects against a different failure, and each needs testing once a year.
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Quick answers
Can a sump pump discharge into the sewer?
In most places no. Groundwater and rain should not enter the sanitary sewer, and it can overload the system. The discharge should go outside, away from the house.
How do I test a sump pump?
Pour a bucket of water into the pit and watch the pump start, empty the pit and shut off. Do this every few months and before storm seasons, and listen for unusual noise.
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