My Brand New Basement Smelled Like a Sewage — You’ll Never Guess What Caused It

Welcome to Domestic Disasters, where we take a look at some of your worst mess-ups and grossest finds. We take them to the experts to find out how big of a problem they are and how expensive they are to fix.

A couple of years ago, Marisa and her husband finished their basement and added a half bathroom. With four children in the house, the extra space was a relief — until recently, when a stinky odor developed. “My children started blaming one another for farting, until the smell became unbearable,” she says. “It was clear something more was wrong.”

Marisa’s husband sniffed down the offender. Inside a small closet near the bathroom, the downstairs sewage was overflowing. The submersible sewage pump had stopped working, and apparently, the alarm that should have warned them about it had also malfunctioned.

In an effort to DIY a fix, he loosened the bolts on the pump, inadvertently unleashing a sewage backup. “My husband is pretty handy, but plumbing isn’t his wheelhouse,” she says.

What They Tried

The plumber couldn’t get there until the next day, so her husband ran a wet vac, for more than an hour, collecting the spillage until it subsided. By that time, the smell had crept upstairs, engulfing the kitchen and living room. “The whole house stunk,” she says.

After inspecting the scene, the plumber informed them of the problem: a wad of baby wipes had jammed the pump motor’s impeller. “Presumably, our toddler was the culprit here, since the big kids know better,” she says.

The fix was only around $150, but it took 24 hours for the smell to subside. “And lesson learned: we no longer keep baby wipes in that bathroom!” she says.

Now the only off-putting smells in the house are actual farts from the kids. But did Marisa and her husband fix the problem the right way?

A Pro Weighs In

We spoke to some experts to learn whether Marisa and her husband handled the situation correctly, plus how to prevent such grossness from unfolding in other people’s homes. Here’s what they said, plus a little background on these pumps.

Submersible sewer pumps, aka sewage ejector pumps, raise waste from downstairs plumbing up to the level of a home’s main sewage drain line. They are common in houses with basement plumbing. “Most homeowners don’t know what a sewage ejector pump is, or think it’s the same thing as a sump pump, until it backs up,” says Mark Kay, founder and editor of SepticTankHub.

There are a number of reasons sewer pumps can fail, including jammed float switches, bad check valves, normal wear and tripped circuits, but clogged impellers are the most common.

“Many of the sewage pump failures we see come from flushing things that shouldn’t be flushed,” says master plumber Aaron Adams. “Feminine products and wipes labeled as flushable are the most notorious killers. Dental floss can also get tangled in them.”

As for the sewage pump alarm, those typically fail from electrical issues, like tripped breakers, faulty wiring or dead backup batteries.

And once a pump stops working, the problem can quickly turn dire, with sewage backing up in toilets, showers and eventually onto floors. That biohazard not only has the potential to cause health issues, it requires major remediation before mold becomes an issue.

Did the Homeowners Get it Right?

Partly. “They fought to contain the overflow, and they had a plumber out the very following day,” says Key. “That urgency really helped to contain the damage.”

But, our expert says the way they handled the overflow was dangerous. “I get the panic; when it’s flooded like that, you do what you can, but it means direct exposure to raw sewage and its gases,” says Kay. Also, floors and walls that come into contact with sewage should be cleaned by a professional water remediation company to prevent mold, says Adams.

How The Pros Would Handle It

The first step a pro would take is to block inflow into the system by shutting off the water to the whole home, then disconnecting the power to the pump at the breaker. “As soon as a pump failure is detected, all water usage should stop,” says Adams.

Next, a pro would ventilate the area before figuring out what’s wrong with the pump. Once it’s repaired, they’d test the rest of the system and recommend a water remediation company.

The Panic Meter

We rank Domestic Disasters on a four-point scale.

• Do It Yourself: The easiest issues to fix. You can handle it all on your own.
• Phone a Friend: This issue might require a little outside assistance.
• Call a Pro: This situation warrants professional assistance.
• SOS: Problems that are so dangerous, you’re directly at risk of injury or worse.

When addressed early on, sewage ejector pump issues can be DIY-able, but it can be tricky to diagnose larger issues, which means calling a pro is usually the best course of action. “If a pump is clogged with wipes and hygiene products, a homeowner could attempt to clear the debris, but this is a very messy, unsanitary job, plus the float switch needs to be carefully set to ensure proper function,” says Adams.

The Cost Differential

If you periodically test the alarm and take action to clear a clog right away, the DIY costs should run between $0 and $50. That includes basic supplies like gloves, disinfectant and a new alarm battery. If your system doesn’t have a high water alarm, having one installed one typically runs from $100 to $300.

Hiring a plumber to diagnose and clear a clog usually costs between $150 and $600. That could increase by $500 to $2,000 or more, depending on whether you need a new pump, float or other parts.

But, if the problem is neglected or ignored, costs can quickly escalate, soaring into the thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars for expert sewage remediation and replacing flooring, drywall and other finishes. “The math is brutal,” says Kay. “A $20 battery and two minutes a month separates you from a five-figure cleanup.”

The Right Way to Fix Sewage Ejector Pumps

• Shut off water to the house, to prevent adding to the overflow.
• Cut the power to the pump at the breaker, before you touch anything wet in the basement. Also, for safety, unplug the pump motor and float switch, since some pumps are hardwired.
• Ventilate the space by opening windows and running a fan to clear out sewer gas before anyone spends time there.
• Use PPE, including heavy-duty rubber gloves, eye protection, an N-95 mask, pants and boots.
• Vacuum up excess sewage with a wet vac.
• Call a plumber.

In Marisa’s case, the plumber was able to clear the wipes from the impeller, plus inspect the float switch and check valve. “This is where the homeowners nailed the job,” says Kay. “Next-day service kept the damage contained.”

If You Choose to DIY

• Protect the area around the pump with old towels or plastic.
• Get a bucket ready to collect what you pull from the pump.
• Disconnect the line going from the pump at the check valve.
• Remove the lid of the pump basin.
• Reach into the pit and lift the pump by its handle
• Set the pump into the bucket, then clean out any debris. Pliers will help.
• Try to turn the impeller. If it moves, that means you’ve successfully cleared it.
• Remove any wipes or other debris from the pump basin.
• Replace the battery on the alarm and test the alarm to make sure it triggers.
• Refill the pit with clean water from a hose.
• Reinstall the pump, making sure the float switch can float freely

After repairs, test the system by putting water into the basin. “Confirm the pump activates at the correct level, discharges effectively and shuts off properly,” says Joseph Wade of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. “This ensures the system is fully operational, not just temporarily fixed.”

Call a Water Remediation Specialist

You might be able to safely DIY this part of the job by disinfecting everything the sewage touched, but if it reached flooring, drywall or framing, it’s time to call in a pro. “Don’t gamble with mold in a finished basement,” says Kay.

How to Prevent Submersible Sewer Pump Issues

• Put only toilet paper and human waste down the drain. Never flush wipes, even if they’re labeled as “flushable.”
• Test the alarm every month or two by hitting the test button or lifting the float. Replace the battery once a year.
• Pour a bucket of water into the basin every few months to confirm the pump is cycling on and off cleanly.
• Get the pump professionally inspected yearly, and have the basin pumped and cleaned of sediment every three to five years. “A pro inspection runs about $100–$300 and is the best-value maintenance you can buy” says Kay.
• Add a battery backup or Wi-Fi smart alarm, which will text your phone if something goes wrong while you’re away.
• Replace your pump before it fails. Pumps typically last seven to 10 years, or longer with good maintenance.
• Check pumps more often if you have a high water table or live in a flood zone. In cold climates, ensure the discharge line and vent can’t freeze.

“Because they move waste from below the sewer line, a lot of strain can be placed on these pumps,” says Wade. “They need regular maintenance to ensure they are running efficiently.”

Also, keep an eye, ear and nose out for early signs of failure. Besides a sewage smell, those can include gurgling or slow-draining drains, water or moisture around the basin lid, strange noises coming form the pump and a pump that never runs or runs constantly.

What the Homeowner Learned

“It really does matter what you flush down the toilet!” says Marisa. “And don’t start taking things apart if you don’t know what you’re doing. While my husband didn’t cause any damage by trying to unscrew the lid on the pump, it caused whatever was already up in the pipe came rushing down, and surely made the situation worse.”

Also, Marisa recommends installing a smart sensor for extra protection. She recommends this one, which they now have.

About the Experts

• Mark Kay is the founder and editor of SepticTankHub, a free, data-driven directory for homeowners to find and compare verified septic and wastewater professionals. He pens the site’s homeowner guides on pump alarms, system maintenance and how to avoid expensive backups.
• Aaron Adams is a master plumber with more than 20 years of experience. He’s also CEO of Aaron Services: Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, which serves the north Atlanta, Georgia, area.
• Joseph Wade is VP of Operations at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, which operates in more than 300 locations across North America.

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