What is the difference between a sewer pump and a sump pump?

Question

And how do you tell which one you've got? From what I have read, it seems like they are exactly the same thing. They both can pump clean water and waste water. My home warranty covers sump pumps, but not sewer pumps.

I believe we have a grinder pump with blades, but it is pumped to the sewer system.

Answer 1

A sump pump keeps your basement from flooding, a sewer pump is for the waste water (and other stuff) from your toilets and sinks.

Answer 2

Sump pumps and sewage pumps are two types of pumps used in dwellings used as homes and other structures. Both pumps are usually seen in the basement part of the building and act as indoor septic systems. Both have components of a holding tank or large canisters and pumps. In the case of sewage pumps, it has an additional alarm. The alarm is activated when a certain level of accumulated waste is reached. The waste is then ground and transported into the sewer system.

A sump pump is a machine designed to get rid of water from flooding or other excess water in a structure’s basement. Sump pumps are essential in many homes or buildings where flooding or water access is very easy. The flooding or stagnant water can cause damage to the property, materials, and the building’s plumbing system.

A sump pump is usually powered by electricity. In case of a power shortage, it can be powered by a backup battery. Sump pumps also can be classified as pedestal or submersible types. The pedestal type is mounted and is more easily seen and operated while the submersible kind, as it name implies, is sealed and can be lowered into the sump pit, a hole that is designed to collect water.

By contrast, sewage pumps are designed to remove not just water but waste and other small materials from a building to the septic tank or the sewage system. Sewage pumps usually are necessary when there is a bathroom present in a building.

Like any other machine or appliance in a building, sump pumps must be checked and maintained regularly for longer use and operations. If a building or home is located near water or flood-risk areas, there should be more instances to check the machine.

Sewage pumps are also known by other names like sewage ejector or sewage grinder pump. Unlike the sump pump, sewage pumps deal with solid and liquid waste, solid objects, and heavy liquids flushed down from a building or from household appliances being used. Sewage pumps use gravity to force down the materials into the plumbing system. However, a conventional sewage pump can only handle a small amount of solids.

Another difference between sump pumps and sewage pumps is that sewage pumps don’t normally require any kind of maintenance. However, there are instances when the machine doesn’t activate or large, solid objects block the machine from channeling. In the mentioned scenarios, the aftermath will be a delayed transport of waste and possible flooding.

Answer 3

A sump pump is a pump used to remove water that has accumulated in a sump pit. A sump pit, commonly found in the home basement, is simply a hole to collect water. The water may enter via the perimeter drains of a basement waterproofing system, funneling into the pit, or may arrive because of rain or because of natural ground water, if the basement is below the water table level. Plumbing drainage and venting systems maintain neutral air pressure in the drains, allowing flow of water and sewage down drains and through waste pipes by gravity. As such, it is critical that a downward slope be maintained throughout. In relatively rare situations, a downward slope out of a building to the sewer cannot be created, and a special collection pit and grinding lift 'sewage ejector' pump are needed.

Answer 4

The first answer is not quite correct. Generally, sump pumps would be defined as pumps that pump a liquid (and maybe very small solids, depending onthe pump design) that are not sewage. For example, you might have a sump pump on a dewatering system for your house.
A sewer pump is usually (but not always) a grinder pump, meaning it has blades within the housing that break up particles small enough to allow them to be pumped with the sewer pump. The sewer pump would be used to pump human waste products and would typically be on your septic system.

Answer 5

An actual sewer pump grinds up whatever goes through it. Toilets that do this are called Macerating toilets. A sump pump only is used for water, no solids.