A sewage ejector in a residential setting is inspected primarily for safety, sanitation, and obvious performance issues, not for detailed serviceability testing.

Scope and limitations

For a standard home inspection, you typically:

  • Identify the presence and general type of sewage ejector pump (or note if fixtures below grade lack one where expected).
  • Operate normal controls only (e.g., run a basement bathroom or drain) rather than dismantling the system or entering the pit.

What to locate and document

  • Location of the basin relative to basement fixtures served.
  • Type of system: sewage ejector vs sump pump vs combination, and which fixtures appear tied in.
  • Accessibility: ability to view the lid, discharge, vent, and electrical connections without removing covers.
  • Vent hooe

Visual inspection items

Without opening the sealed pit, you generally check:

  • Basin lid: sealed, bolted or screwed down, gas‑tight grommets around penetrations, no obvious cracks or gaps.
  • Vent: presence of a vent line sized and run like a standard plumbing vent (not capped, not run to interior only).
  • Discharge piping: correct material for drain/waste, supported, with a visible check valve and shutoff where accessible.
  • Electrical: dedicated receptacle or hard‑wired circuit where visible, cord intact, no open splices, no extension cords or multi‑tap adapters.
  • Signs of leakage: staining around the lid, dampness, effluent on or around the pit, or corrosion on nearby materials.
  • Alarm (if present): float alarm box or panel, mounted above grade, with visible indication it has power.

Functional checks

Using plumbing fixtures that discharge into the basin:

  • Run water and observe that the pump cycles on and off within a reasonable time, without tripping breakers.
  • Listen for abnormal noise (grinding, rattling, harsh cavitation) and excessive vibration transmitted to the discharge piping.
  • Observe accessible discharge for hammering, leaks at fittings, or obvious movement when the pump starts and stops.
  • Note any backup, slow drainage, or gurgling that suggests venting or capacity problems.

Common defects to write up

  • Basement bathroom or laundry below the main sewer line with no visible ejector system.
  • Unsealed or loosely covered basin, missing gaskets, or open penetrations that could leak sewage or sewer gas.
  • No apparent vent, or vent terminated indoors or capped.
  • No check valve on the discharge where a vertical lift is present.
  • Evidence of past overflow or chronic leakage around the pit or adjacent finishes.
  • Pump that fails to run, runs continuously, or trips the breaker during normal fixture use.
  • System sharing a circuit inappropriately, powered through an extension cord, or lacking any form of alarm in a larger or commercial environment (note and recommend evaluation).