Choose by Fixture Count, Elevation, and Longevity
If your bathroom rough-ins sit below the street sewer, a sealed sewage ejector system is the robust, code-friendly choice—especially when serving a toilet, shower, and lavatory together. An ejector pit with a sealed lid, vented to code, and a 2″–3″ discharge handles solids reliably for decades with proper sizing and a check valve. Macerating upflush units shine in tight retrofits or when you can’t trench the slab, but they are best for limited duty powder rooms; they have finer clearances, are louder, and are less tolerant of ‘non-flushables.’
Odor Control & Venting
Whichever route you choose, odors are a venting issue first: provide a proper vent stack with slope and cleanouts, trap primers for any floor drains, and a gas-tight, gasketed pit cover with dedicated vent connection. Route condensate from nearby ERVs/dehumidifiers to a hub drain—not the ejector—to avoid unnecessary cycling. Use waxless toilet seals for easier future service.
Power, Alarms, and Service Access
Put ejectors on a dedicated, labeled circuit with a high-water alarm and battery backup where feasible. For macerators, isolate the GFCI-protected receptacle and keep a shutoff valve within easy reach. Provide access panels at check valves and unions, and keep clear floor space for pump removal. Educate the household: no wipes, floss, or hygiene products—ever.
Noise & Finish Detailing
Set the pit in a self-leveling underlayment recess for a tight seal, line the enclosure with mass-loaded vinyl if near living zones, and use large-format tile with epoxy grout to resist splash and cleaning chemicals. If you must use a macerator, locate it behind the wall in a ventilated box with vibration isolators to keep sound down.
For side-by-side scopes, parts lists, and permit notes, review our NYC basement plumbing upgrades.