Sewage Ejector Pump Repair & Installation in Austin, TX
When gravity cannot get wastewater out of your home, your ejector pump does. Keep it running with the Central Texas pump experts homeowners have trusted since 1972.
Most homes drain by gravity: every fixture sits above the sewer line, and wastewater simply flows downhill. But when a bathroom, laundry room, or living space sits below the level of the main sewer line, gravity works against you, and a sewage ejector pump does the lifting. It collects wastewater from those low fixtures in a sealed basin and pumps it up into the main line, quietly, automatically, hundreds of times a month.
You will also hear these called sewage injector pumps or sewage lift pumps. Whatever your installer called it, the arrangement is the same, and so is the problem when it stops: everything below grade stops draining, and wastewater has nowhere to go but back where it came from.
Lantz Home Services repairs, replaces, and installs sewage ejector pumps across Austin and the Highland Lakes. We diagnose honestly, price upfront, and stock the parts these systems actually need, because after more than 50 years working the hillside and lakefront homes where these pumps live, we know exactly what fails and when.
Call (512) 710-1032 or request service online. Leave it to Lantz!
Which Pump Do You Have? Ejector vs. Grinder vs. Sump
Three different pumps live in Central Texas basins and pits, and homeowners mix them up constantly, which leads to wrong parts, wrong quotes, and wrong repairs. Here is the two-minute version:
| What it moves | Where it sends it | Where you will find it | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sewage ejector pump | Wastewater and sewage from below-grade fixtures | Up into your home's main sewer line | A sealed basin serving a downstairs bathroom, laundry, or lower level |
| Grinder pump | All of the home's wastewater, ground into slurry | Uphill through a pressurized line to the public sewer | Homes that sit below the street main, common on lakefront and hillside lots |
| Sump pump | Groundwater and stormwater only, never sewage | Out to the yard or storm drainage | A pit protecting a low area from water intrusion |
The short test: if it handles toilet waste for part of the house, it is an ejector pump. If the whole house depends on it to reach the street, it is a grinder pump. If it only moves clear water, it is a sump pump. Not sure? Call us, describe what you see, and we will know. We service all three, which means the right diagnosis no matter which pump is misbehaving.
Signs Your Ejector Pump Is Failing
Ejector pumps announce their problems before they quit. Call at the first sign, and you get a repair; wait, and you get a cleanup:
The Lower Level Drains Slowly or Backs Up
When the pump weakens or the basin fills faster than it empties, the downstairs bathroom is the first to know. Slow drains, a toilet that will not clear, or water rising in a shower down there points straight at the pump.
Sewage Odors Near the Basin
A properly sealed basin is airtight. Smells mean a failed lid seal, a stuck check valve letting wastewater linger, or a vent problem, all fixable, none ignorable.
The Pump Runs Constantly, or Not at All
A pump that never shuts off usually has a stuck float switch or a check valve failing and letting pumped wastewater fall back into the basin to be pumped again. A pump that never runs may have a seized motor or a dead switch. Both conditions kill the motor fast if left alone.
Loud Grinding, Rattling, or Clunking
Ejector pumps are not silent, but they should sound consistent. New noises usually mean debris in the impeller or failing bearings, and both are cheaper to fix today than after they finish the motor off.
The Alarm Is Sounding
Many systems include a high-water alarm. It has exactly one message: the basin is filling faster than the pump can empty it. Stop adding water from that part of the house and call us.
It Trips the Breaker
A pump that trips its circuit is drawing too much current, typically from a failing motor or a jammed impeller. Resetting the breaker over and over is not a repair plan.
Our Sewage Ejector Pump Services
Repair
Many "dead" pumps are one failed component away from years more service. Float switches, check valves, seals, and vents are the usual suspects, and we carry the common parts on the truck. We diagnose first, quote in writing, and fix what is actually broken. [CONFIRM: parts stocking language.]
Replacement
Ejector pumps are workhorses, but they are not immortal; most give roughly 7 to 10 years depending on usage and what gets flushed. When replacement is the honest answer, we size the new pump correctly for your fixtures and lift height, install a quality unit, and test the full cycle before we leave. If your pump is on its second failure, replacement usually beats a third repair, and we will show you the math.
New Installation
Finishing a lower level, adding a downstairs bathroom, or converting a garage? If the new fixtures sit below the main sewer line, they need an ejector system. We handle the complete installation: basin, pump, check valve, venting, alarm, and the connection into your sewer line, permitted and up to code.
Maintenance
The cheapest ejector pump service is the checkup that prevents the emergency. We inspect the float, valve, seals, and vent, clean the basin, and test the cycle, and Ultimate Home Care Plan members can have it handled on a schedule with priority service when something does go wrong. [CONFIRM: plan coverage details.]
Why Ejector Pumps Matter in Central Texas
Hillside and Lakefront Homes Live Below Grade
Around Lake Travis and Lake LBJ, homes step down hillsides to reach the water, which puts lower levels, guest quarters, and dockside bathrooms below the sewer line. The Highland Lakes may have more pumps per neighborhood than anywhere else in Texas, and we have been servicing them since 1972.
Garage Apartments and Lower-Level Additions
Austin's lot values have homeowners finishing every usable square foot, and many of those new bathrooms and laundry rooms sit below the existing sewer line. An ejector system, properly sized and permitted, is what makes those projects plumb.
What Gets Flushed Decides What Fails
Ejector pumps handle sewage, but they do not forgive wipes, feminine products, or grease. The single biggest cause of premature failure we see is a pump asked to move things it was never designed to pass. One house rule, nothing but toilet paper, doubles the working life of these systems.
Power Outages Are Pump Outages
When the grid drops during a storm, an ejector basin keeps filling but stops emptying. For homes that depend on one, a battery backup or standby generator is worth discussing, and our electrical team installs both.
What to Expect When You Call
- Fast, honest diagnosis. We identify the failed component and show you, not just tell you.
- Upfront pricing. Written repair and replacement options, priced before work begins, so you choose with real numbers.
- Quality parts and pumps. Correctly sized equipment installed to code, not whatever was cheapest at the supply house. [CONFIRM: brands carried, and name them here if desired.]
- A full-cycle test. We fill, pump, and verify the system, including the check valve and alarm, before we call it done.
- Straight advice for the long run. What to flush, what not to, when to service it next, and whether backup power makes sense for your home.
What Affects the Cost of Ejector Pump Service
- Repair vs. replacement. A float switch or check valve is a modest repair; a new pump is a mid-range project; a full basin-and-pump system for a new bathroom is a planned installation.
- Pump size and quality. Fixture count and lift height determine the horsepower and build the job needs. Undersized pumps die young, which is why we size before we quote.
- Access and condition. A clean, accessible basin makes for a faster job than a sealed slab installation or a basin that needs cleanup first.
- Code and permits. New installations are permitted and inspected, and requirements vary by jurisdiction. We handle it and include it in the written quote.
You will have exact numbers, in writing, before we start. Financing is available with approved credit for replacements and new installations, and current specials are on our Savings page.
Sewage Ejector Pump Service Throughout Austin and the Highland Lakes
From our home base in Lago Vista and our Austin office, Lantz services ejector pumps across Central Texas, including:
Austin, Bee Cave, Burnet, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Granite Shoals, Horseshoe Bay, Jonestown, Kingsland, Lago Vista, Lakeway, Leander, Liberty Hill, Manor, Marble Falls, Pflugerville, Point Venture, Round Rock, Spicewood, and Sunrise Beach Village.
The pump-dependent homes of the Highland Lakes are literally our home turf: our headquarters sits among the lakefront and hillside properties that rely on these systems every day. If you do not see your community listed, give us a call.
Why Homeowners Choose Lantz Home Services
- Local since 1972. More than 50 years servicing the below-grade and lakefront homes where these pumps work hardest. We are not a franchise and we are not new here.
- All three pumps, one company. Ejector, grinder, and sump systems diagnosed and serviced correctly, because we work on all of them every week.
- Upfront pricing. Written quotes before work begins. The price we quote is the price you pay.
- Licensed and background-checked. Plumbing License #M-40190, with trained, courteous technicians in every truck.
- Plumbing and electrical under one roof. Pumps are plumbing that runs on electricity, and we are licensed for both sides of that sentence, including backup power.
Related Services
Our People Make the Difference!
Get to Know the Experts Who Bring Quality and Care to Every Job
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Jacob Lantz Owner -
Brittany M. Dispatch Manager / Membership Liaison
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Kayla J. Dispatch
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Kelly S. Accounting
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Charly
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Pat
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Cami C. Marketing Director
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Mark M. Plumbing Service Manager
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Derek J. HVAC Technician
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Darren T. HVAC Technician
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Greg W. HVAC Service Manager
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Willie K. Plumbing Technician
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Noland M. Plumbing Technician
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Nicholas H. Electrician
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When you need plumbing, HVAC, or electrical service in Austin, TX, trust the local team dedicated to serving Central Texas homeowners with dependable service and professional care.
Sewage Ejector Pump FAQ
The Basics
What does a sewage ejector pump do? It collects wastewater from fixtures that sit below your main sewer line, such as a downstairs bathroom or laundry room, and pumps it up into the line so it can drain normally. Without it, those fixtures have no way out.
Is a sewage injector pump the same thing as an ejector pump? Yes. "Injector pump" is a common way homeowners say it, but the equipment is the same: a pump that ejects wastewater upward into the sewer line.
How do I know if I have an ejector pump, a grinder pump, or a sump pump? If it handles toilet waste for part of the house, it is an ejector pump; if the whole house depends on it to reach the street main, it is a grinder pump; if it only moves clear groundwater, it is a sump pump. We service all three, so call and describe what you see.
Where is my ejector pump located? In a sealed basin, usually in a utility area, closet, or garage on the home's lowest level, near the fixtures it serves.
How long does a sewage ejector pump last? Roughly 7 to 10 years for most residential units, longer with maintenance and good flushing habits, shorter when wipes and grease are in the picture.
Problems and Repairs
My downstairs bathroom is backing up. Is it the pump? If only the below-grade fixtures are affected, the pump is the prime suspect. If the whole house is backing up, the problem is more likely your main sewer line; see our Sewer Backup page and call either way.
Why does my ejector pump run constantly? Usually a stuck float switch or a failed check valve letting pumped water fall back into the basin. Both are repairable, and both will burn out the motor if ignored.
Why is there a sewage smell near the pump basin? The basin should be sealed and vented; odors point to a failed lid seal, gasket, or vent issue. It is a fixable problem, not something to live with.
My pump's alarm is going off. What do I do? Stop running water to the fixtures that basin serves and call us at (512) 710-1032. The alarm means the basin is filling faster than the pump is emptying it, and a backup is the next stop.
Can you repair my pump, or does it always need replacement? Many failures are a single component: float, check valve, or seal, and we repair those for a fraction of replacement cost. When the motor itself is going, we will show you the evidence and price both paths.
Why does the pump trip my breaker? A jammed impeller or failing motor draws excess current. Repeated resets stress the motor and the circuit, so have it diagnosed rather than living with the resets.
Installation and Prevention
I am adding a downstairs bathroom. Do I need an ejector pump? If the new fixtures sit below your main sewer line, yes, and it must be sized, vented, and permitted correctly. We handle the complete installation as part of the rough-in.
What can I flush with an ejector pump? Toilet paper and wastewater, nothing else. Wipes of every kind, feminine products, and grease are the leading killers of these pumps.
What happens to the pump when the power goes out? It stops, but the basin keeps filling if you keep using water. Minimize use of the served fixtures during an outage, and ask us about battery backup or a standby generator if outages are common in your area.
How often should an ejector pump be serviced? An annual check of the float, valve, seals, and vent catches most failures before they happen. Ultimate Home Care members can put it on a schedule and forget about it. [CONFIRM: plan detail.]
How much does ejector pump replacement cost? It depends on the pump's size, quality, and access, and you will have a written price before we start. [OPTIONAL: publish a typical range; neither local competitor with an ejector page prices anything.]
The pump you never think about deserves a team that always does.
Call (512) 710-1032 or request service online for sewage ejector pump repair, replacement, and installation from the team Central Texas has trusted since 1972. Leave it to Lantz.
Trusted By Your Neighbors!
Real Feedback From Real Customers
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Preventative maintenance is the backbone of Lantz Home Services. Once again being part of their PM program I avoided a complete shutdown of our grinder pump. Lantz Master Plumber Justin Barnett arrived and I thought all was well until he requested that I take a “peek” into what I would describe as a total catastrophe about to happen at any moment. The grinder system was a horror of failing pump and sewage accumulation and related nasties. Justin told me my options from doing nothing to fixing it with 3 options, which were clearly defined with costs and various replacement components and when it would be finished. We chose wisely. Justin returned with all of the components and in 4 hours it was stripped completely and reassembled with new components. Justin is organized, articulate, educated and polite. Bravo Lantz Home Services PS. I worked in industrial Preventative Maintenance for 25 years. These guys are the real deal.- Randy L.
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I had a great experience with Lantz Home Services. We ran into an electrical issue at our lake house late in the day, and I honestly didn’t think we’d be able to get an electrician out that evening. When I called, they reassured me that someone would be available—and they delivered. Nick, their electrician, arrived around 7 PM and had everything resolved by 9 PM. He was prompt, thorough, and very courteous throughout the entire process. He quickly diagnosed the problem and fixed it efficiently, all at a very fair price. I truly appreciate their responsiveness and professionalism. I highly recommend Lantz Home Services and will definitely be using them again in the future.- Larry W.
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Zachary was beyond helpful! He jumped straight to the problem, made sure everything was properly working, walked me through the fix and was straightforward from the get go about what the potential issues could be and what the estimated repairs were as well! He kept me informed and even shared pictures when I couldn't be there right away. After everything was done he put everything back the way it was. This was a grinder pump drainage pipe repair. The site looked as if he was never there! Five stars.- Simon V.
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I had an excellent experience with this HVAC company and especially with Moses, who came out for a second opinion. After a previous technician tried to convince me that I needed a full system replacement (on a 4-year-old unit), Moses took a completely different and highly professional approach. He performed thorough diagnostics before suggesting anything and took the time to properly assess the system instead of jumping to conclusions. He confirmed that there was no leak, no major component failure, and that the system was actually in good working condition. The issue was likely electrical, not something requiring expensive replacements. This immediately put my mind at ease. What really stood out is their honesty and integrity. Instead of pushing unnecessary work, they were transparent about the fact that no major repairs were needed. They also documented their findings and shared everything clearly, which builds a lot of trust. Huge shoutout to Moses for being knowledgeable, thorough, and genuinely looking out for the customer’s best interest. It’s rare to find this level of honesty in the industry. Highly recommend if you want accurate diagnostics and fair, trustworthy service.- Annamaria
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Excellent service, fast, and professional team. Willie Krueger was the tech who came through, he solved plumbing issues that had bugged me for almost 10 years in about 20 minutes. Will absolutely use them in the future for anything I can, and would highly recommend to anyone I need of their services.- Jonathan J.
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Zac was very cordial and made sure I was aware of what he diagnosed and what it was going to cost. We had one of our Heat Pumps replaced last week, the Techs were John and Landyn. The response was amazing as was the changeout. I can not speak highly enough about the professionalism we received!- Gerald P.
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The folks at Lantz Home Services installed this Tankless Water Heater for me and were absolutely amazing! They put up new wall paneling to cover some wall defects I had from the old tank water heater. So happy with my new water heater!!- Nichole W.
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Mark and Willie came out to the Christian Brothers Automotive pflugerville location and were able to handle the commercial plumbing issue that 3 other plumbing companies were not able to figure out. We will only be using them form now on the difference was night and day between them and the others. On a side note Willie’s service truck was the cleanest most well organized service truck we all had ever seen!!! They take pride in their service and we appreciate that in our service industry as well!- Ian D.