Ejector pit depth

tompatrick

A friend of mine told me that a plumber told him that he needed a deeper ejector pit. Aren't they pretty standard? He's thinking of adding a basement bathromm, does that require the pit to be deeper?

Plumber101

It all depends on the distance between the sump pit and the fixture being served. The farther away a fixture is away from the pit then the more depth you will need to get proper slope for the drain pipe

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tompatrick

Thanks! The bathroom he is thinking is only 8-12 ft. away. Pit has got to be 36", I think. Hmmm...

Plumber101

There are pre-fab ejector pit that have a matching lid so that there is a good seal and won't let gases or ordors to escape. Usually 36" tall. I have had to put some at 48" deep to get the slope I need.

At a 1/4" drop per ft on a 10' run that's 2 1/2" drop easy with a 36" pit

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John Wayne once said "Life is tough and it is even tougher if you are stupid"

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tompatrick

Thx again 101. How do you get 2 1/2" though?

TheEplumber

1/4" fall per ft x 10ft = 2.5"

Alan

Wait a minute here. Are you talking SIZE of the basin itself, or how deep it sits in the hole you dug for it?

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tompatrick

Well, I got over there today and measured the pit depth. Two feet, I thought it was three because the ones at HD were all 36". If we have to trench a drain where would that come in depth wise on the pit (let's say 10' away)? I'm thinking you have to figure for the thickness of the pipe, and depth underneath the concrete when I repour the trench after a P trap . I realize could go out and by me a $20 book on plumbing, and I will. I just like talking with you guys more. I'm a carpenter, and I'd rather have a buddy tell me or figure it out myself, lol
Tom

TheEplumber

I'm thinking the plumber was right. You will be 12" deep at the toilet that's located 10' away. So, 12" + 2.5" for grade = 14.5". That's more then half the pit depth. That will make for very short pump cycles- hard on the pump

tompatrick

12" deep at the toilet???

Plumber101

Calculate 3 1/2" for a 3 inch pipe and 10 in for a 90 off the toilet flange

equals 13 1/2 in plus another 2 1/2 in for the slope and you have 16 in total

Gat the 36 in pit

The inches add up pretty quick when your not used to laying pipe

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John Wayne once said "Life is tough and it is even tougher if you are stupid"

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TheEplumber

I was being generous