What’s the Difference?

While somewhat similar, we find that many of our Portland-based customers confuse the differences between sump pumps and sewage ejection pumps. We felt it was worth writing up an easy guide to help clarify the differences and similarities between the two and to explain why you might need one or both in your home.

Similarities

Both sump pumps and sewage ejection pumps are located in basements or crawlspaces. Sump pumps function to move excess water from your home to keep your basement or crawlspace free from flooding.

Sewer ejection pumps help move sewage away from your home. To summarize, here’s a look at the similarities between the two:

Both sump pumps and sewage ejection pumps…
  • Work to move water and waste away from your home
  • Function to keep your home safe
  • May be installed with an alarm sound that alerts homeowners to problems
  • Are located in crawlspaces or basements

Differences

There are more differences between sump pumps and sewage ejector pumps than there are similarities. Although commonly confused, the two each fulfill very different functions in your home.

Sump Pumps

As mentioned, the primary function of sump pumps is to keep your basement or crawl space dry. Sump pumps, as their name suggests, safely pump water away from your home to reduce the risk of damage caused by flooding.

While basement or crawlspace flooding is something we always want to avoid, sump pumps are especially important during Portland’s rainy season in the springtime. We always encourage our customers to be proactive in checking sump pump float switches to ensure everything is in proper.

Sewage Ejection Pumps

Sewage ejection pumps are necessary for homes with bathrooms and toilets installed below the water main line. Sewage ejection pumps help push sewage away from homes in cases where gravity alone can’t do the job.

Plumbing jobs involving sewage ejection pumps may be more costly than others because of the mess and health risks naturally associated with sewage. At 3 Mountains Plumbing, we do everything in our power to ensure the safety of your home.

Please contact one of 3 Mountains Plumbing’s experienced technicians to learn more about the differences between sump pumps and sewage ejection pumps, and to determine if you may need either or both for your home.

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