But first... many houses with basements have the building drain below the basement level which means no pump is used at all. You'll need to locate where the main drain exits your house. Sometimes you'll see a horizontal drain line halfway up the basement wall. That would require a sewage ejector. If there are any floor drains in your basement you MAY have a drain line below the floor.

    One approach is to install a plastic basin below the concrete basement floor and use a sewage ejector pump to pump out the waste when the basin gets full. These are special pumps equipped with grinding devices to chop up... ummmm... solid things. Solution People Inc had installed many of them and they work fine. After flushing you can hear a faint sound as the pump motor kicks in. If the pump ever fails, the toilet won't drain properly, so you'll be alerted to the problem.

    With a sewage ejector system, you can have all the plumbing you want... toilet, sink, tub, shower, etc., and all those fixtures are plain ordinary devices that are used elsewhere in the home. With some "flush up" toilets you would still need an ejector pump to handle the drain from the sink.

The second option for sewage connection is using a flush-up system that is installed either on the floor beneath the toilet or in the back of the toilet. That’s a great option if you prefer not to disturb your basement concrete slab or for adding a bathroom in an already finished basement where minimum disturbance of the finished areas is desired. 

    One of the these systems is The Qwik Jon® - it is a wastewater and sewage removal system that allows the plumbing contractor to put a toilet or complete bathroom almost anywhere.  

    The Qwik Jon pumps in any direction, is very quiet, and is leak-proof and odorless. Tank and all piping can be hidden. The Qwik Jon can be installed free-standing on any solid level surface, or the tank and all piping can be hidden behind a wall and under a 2" x 6" subfloor. No one need ever know it's there. The Qwik Jon is tough, sturdy and designed to be built in. 

Another flush-up system is Qwik Jon® Ultima
No need to break concrete or worry about gravity flow to the sewer main. It contains 1/2 HP mini-grinder pump, designed to accommodate a toilet, lavatory and bathtub or shower. It comes in three different models: 202 - contains a custom, comfort height, ADA compliant Zoeller Ultima toilet with elongated bowl, 203 - Use with a variety of rear-outlet toilet styles, 204 - Use with lavatory & shower systems.

    And your third option for sewage connection especially if you are adding a powder room or half bathroom is the quick and economical Saniflo flush –up toilet installation, in which the "macerating" technology is incorporated in your toilet unit. 

Unique Features of a Basement to consider when adding a Bath

    Most basement bathrooms don’t have windows. When remodeling a bathroom in the basement, your most important element is lighting. Deciding on bathroom fixtures and the remodeling design is very important, but putting the right lights in, to maximize your space, is essential. One suggestion is to include light bulb strips above the mirror and adding spotlights throughout the area. 

If you're feeling claustrophobic, then one of the best bathroom remodeling tips is to invest in mirrors. They maximize the space by creating an illusion of having more room in there. 

    You may also use your basement bathroom to store linens and towels. In that case, make sure that your bathroom remodeling ideas involve making up some extra space and adding cabinets and storage units without jeopardizing the use of the facilities. As with all the other objects in the basement bathroom, you’ll need to measure the cabinets and storage units, prior to installing them.