Sump Pumps - Basement Guardians

There seems to be an oder in the basement. The only place that it could be coming from is the sump pit and I keep it covered. Wheat could be the problem?
Thanks for your help

Ray,
The sump itself. There could be lots of bacteria in the water. The safest sanitizer to use is oxygen bleach. Chlorine bleach can accelerate corrosion of the pump and is toxic to vegetation that is watered by the sump discharge pipe.

My sump pump is acting wierd. I emptied the waterbed I had in the basement using a siphon (pretty low rate) into the floor drain, which goes to the sump pit. About 5 mins in, the water was backing up. I went to the sump pit and poked the vertical float and the pump kicked in emptied the pit. So I continued, and again the pit filled up, poke the float, starts up fine. This goes on until the bed is about empty and I break the siphon. Carry the waterbed over to the drain to empty the last 15 or so gallons that the siphon wouldnt get right from bed's valve (high rate).... and then *poof* the pump kicks in while im by the drain. I cant imagine the rate into the pit should have anything to do with it and am thinking the pump is just dieing of natural causes (10 yrs old). Any thoughts?

Shannon,
It sounds like the pump could be getting ready to give up the ghost.

Hi,

I've just installed a new submersible sump pump in my sump pit along side the Basement Watchdog Battery Backup unit, but I can't keep the pump alarm from activating.

The new pump is a 1HP RIDGID that utilizes solid state switching (they call it watersense), and it is operating the way that it should.

The documentation said that no airlock hole would be rewuired because the intake is not under the pump. I don't know what to do. Both pumps are operating, but I just can't get the alarm to keep from coming back on.

Jeff,
How about calling RIDGID to see if the pump is defective?

I moved into a home with an existing sump pump. After a day of rain, the pump has been running approximately every five minutes for the last 3 days (the last two had no rain). Is this normal? The sump is enormous, but just to see what would happen, I unplugged the pump, and within about half an hour, it was nearly full!

Tom,
Yes. If you want to reduce your dependence on the pump, read ALL of my Drainage category columns.

My sump pump floater does not work but the sump pump does, is it possible to replace the floater with a new one

Angela,
Usually the answer is yes.

Tim, do you know any professional in the Chicago area who knows as much about drainage as you do?
My issue: My house had no drain tile on one side. I learned this because water would seep in after heavy rain on that side and also thru the basement fireplace. 5 years ago I dug 10 feet down on the outside and installed 4" perforated black drain tile. (so yes, the backfill is porous and has lots of air pockets). Since then, no more leakage or seepage. But, the water seems to never stop coming into the sump basin (which is only 16" diameter). It gets pumped out to our city storm sewer. During rain, water comes in heavy. Other times, the sump switch activates every 5-10 minutes or so; which is a lot. This makes for shorter lived sump pumps and higher electric bills. In winter, the switch activates every 10-15 minutes (for some reason). We do have our gutters at least 10-15 feet from the house. We do not have a wet back yard so no french drain is needed. I did put a 3' layer of gravel on the side of the house with the new drain tile. I wonder if that acts as a magnet to attract more water into all the air holes in the gravel. I do have 3 window wells on the side of the house we dug out. I did put PVC T drains in each of them. The window wells do not fill up. I know the T's work since during a really dry spell in the summer, I did fill them with water from the hose and the sump basin starting filling almost immediately.
Summary: the good news is the drain tile works well. Bad news: it works too well it seems. Any ideas how to slow it? Id like my neighbors to get some of the water table water into their drain tile.

My drain line into the backyard keeps freezing. Any suggestions how to install a vent of some kind in the evacuation pipe to keep this from happening?

It's obviously because of the 40+MPH wind and sub zero windchill we're having here in IL right now.

Thanks!

Terry,
Welcome to the world of Hydrogeology. That is what my college degree was in. I don't know any Chicagoland drainage experts. The system you installed is working exactly as it should. Too bad it can't drain to a low spot on your lot.

Jamie,
Install a wye fitting on the vertical pipe outside. Mix rock salt and hot water to pour into the open wye or a 45-degree bend. Only pour in enough brine so that it comes to the bottom of the wye and not back to the sump.

My sump's discharge line keeps freezing in this below zero windchill weather. Is there any kind of vent that can be installed outside to stop the vacuum that obviously is happening? That's got to be why the hose never fully drains, right?

Thanks!

My sump pump runs every 1-2 minutes after melting snow or heavy rain. It takes a bit before it kicks in but then it runs constantly for 2-3 days. The plumber drilled holes in the bottom of the sump pit - is this common?

Brian,
Yes.

My sump pump is not turning off. The water is draining but I hear it spewing b/c it seems like it needs to turn off. I have been unplugging it after I let the water drain out but I'd like to fix the problem without calling a plumber and spending hundreds of dollars! HELP!

Didi,
Look to see if the float is stuck against the side of the sump.

My sump pump is always full of water (about 6-8 inches from top). Is this normal? It is starting to smell.

Lee Anne,

That is not normal. Usually there is about 4 inches of water in the bottom of the sump. Make sure the pump is working.

My sump pump is running continously! Is it possible it isn't draining because it is so cold outside(4degrees)? Should I turn it off for awhile?

Cynthi,
You bet it is possible that the outlet pipe is frozen. Check it and pour hot water on it to thaw it. Yes, turn off the pump to prevent burnout.

I recently bought a newly built house.After 2 months, i noticed water coming out from the side of the basement wall.We had a drain with sump.The builder said he is not sure if putting in a permanent pump was to be shouldered by the builder. Is it?

Reginald,
What does your contract say? Did you bargain for one? Why not read all of the columns in my Drainage category and discover how to solve this problem without a sump pump?

Tim,

Last summer a plumber installed a city water back up sump pump in my basement. I have had two failures of my regular electric sump pump and just replaced the old one with a Wayne 3/4" HP cast iron model. My basement had 4" of water in it and I tested the city water back up system only to find out that the check valve had failed and it only added to my flooding problem. I tried the check valve after fixing it and found that the city water pump created enough pressure to blow it out causing the same problem. The only other answer would be to route the discharge of the back up pump to another exterior outlet which would be a very big job. Is there a metal version of the check valve that would operate on a higher pressure solving this problem?

Regards,

Doug

I have a sump pump that originally was turning on about 15 minutes. In order to direct the water away from between our home and our neighbour's (which was causing a mini swamp and shooting out with great force,) I installed a 35 foot hose that leads the water away from the house. I also had a valve installed on the outside to stop the water from returning backwards through the pipe when the pump turned off. This reduced the time between cycles from every 15 minutes to approximately 45 minutes. This weekend it was turning on every 15 minutes again. I raised the hose where it comes out of the building about 8-9 inches and it increased the cycle from 15 minutes to 45 minutes. I really feel that the water that is coming back into the sump pump well, is water returning from the hose and therefore not draining completely. My neighbours on either side have sump pumps that almost never go on. Can you help me?

Robert,
You bet I can help! Read every column in my Drainage category and you will discover how to possibly eliminate your sump pump altogether. That's a deal, isn't it?

My sump pump works fine since i checked it many times; however, there's never any water in the tank. All my neighbours pumps are constantly running cause i can hear water flushing all the time, it seems water is not being collected in my tank. I tried monitoring the pump in heavy rain, but no water is ever in the tank. Could you please direct me of what i should do to figure out the problem. Thanks a Million

We live in a newly built home, and the sump pump is driving me crazy, (positioned in the basement right under our master bedroom). It is going on every 30 seconds,and only stays on for about 2-3 seconds. There was alot of snow that has melted over the last few days and rained most of today. I understand this is alot of water, but shouldn't the sump be pumping longer than that? It is sealed, so I can't see into it to check the float. Would I be in for some trouble if I just unplugged it so I can get to sleep??? What should I do in the morning,call a plumber, electrician? Help! Thanks.

Tarek,
Are you pulling my leg? This is a joke post, right? You are complaining that you have NO WATER? Are you nuts?

Sandy,
It sounds like the float is way out of adjustment. Go read all of the columns in my Drainage category if you want YEARS of uninterrupted sleep. :->

I have a 1/3hp sump pump with cast iron impeller inside a sump pit. Sometimes it does not pump water. My questions are,

1. is it important to adjust the float switch and keep water inside a sump pit at least 5" after pump turns off itself? I was told the reason is to avoid pump getting overheated and seal damage.

2. if I keep 5" water, will the water dry out quickly?

3. is it possible the cast iron impeller get stuck due to rust build up if water inside the sump pit dried out? If I keep water inside the sump pit at least 5", I was told cast iron will not rust if submerged in the water. Is it true?

Thank you.

I have a tether float switch on a sewage pump. Sometimes it works and sometimes not if I change the float switch length. I was told the switch gets less sensitive if the length is too short. Is there a minimum length requirement to ensure the float switch works all the time?

Thanks

Ron,
In my opinion it is important to get the written instructions from the pump manufacturer and see what they say to do to best protect your investment. These instructions can often be found easily at their website.

Hi Tim,

My sump pump works fine for a while then decides not to operate. the pump uses the float type switch. i.e will pump out water for many days then the float seems to sit in the high position and not activate the pump cycle. The float is not caught at all and is free form any debris.

If I 'shake' the water pipe a little the pump kicks into action, and returns to normal. Then a few days later the problem reoccurs again.

When the sump pump works its great but I feel very nervous on leaving the house for more than a day.

The Pump is a 1/2 horse power diamond submersible type as mentioned with a float switch.

Any ideas would be very much welcomed- thanks very much in advance.

Frazer,
It sounds to me like the float lever needs some oil on it so it doesn't stick in the up position.

I wrote a few nights ago about my sump running every 30 seconds for only a few seconds...i did check outside at the discharge and the water was gushing out, so I knew that it was working and not just draining back in to the pit,bu also that I would not be able to just turn it off. Your suggestion was maybe the float was out of adjustment. I called the plumber that installed it into our new house,and over the phone he assured me that the sumbmersible pump that I have was designed to run often and for a short period. I guess I have my doubts still, as he was not even suggesting taking a look at it, and it still seems to cycle on too often.(in my opinion!) Since it is installed right under our bedroom, it reverberates the sound and vibrations up thru the floor and walls, and keeps us awake. Since it is cycling on again-off again so fast, we never get a chance to get used to the sound, ( as in the a/c compressor or a fan sound that runs continuous.) (why DON'T builders not plan the locations better when they decide where to put the mechanicals??) We put some pipe wrap around the pipes, and stuffed some insulation up into the area between the joists, and it has helped somewhat, but not enough. Any suggestions? Are we just destined to many nights of lost sleep when it is wet season? Should I call another plumber to take a look, insulate more, or sleep in another room?? Thanks for any help or suggestions.

Sandy,
You will not need your sump pump if you read my Drainage category columns.

I would like to claify something that a few of my friends are debating. They say that if there is a power failure and the sump pump is not working then the sump pit will overflow and flood the basement. I say no, because the sump pit is desgined to stop the water at a certain level and will never overflow. At least the sump pit at my home doesn't. Can you please confirm this. Tks

JLazer,
Let me answer this way: You would NOT be invited to be next to me at the blackjack tables at the Bellagio, nor would I listen to your tips as to whether I should take a hit or hold.

Your basement will flood if the power is off. If your hypothesis was correct, you would not need a pump!

My sump well has 2 drain lines connected to it near the top of the well. I have noticed the last week or so the pump runs about every fifteen minutes, so I went and looked at it and there is no water entering the well from the two drain lines, yet it keeps slowly filling up. As far as I know there are only the 2 drain lines running into the well. There is a backflow valve installed and it is working properly. Any thoughts?

CJ,
I have no thoughts on this...... it sounds like everything is normal. Read ALL of my Drainage category columns to see how to ELIMINATE your sump pump.

My sump basin was full but not overflowing but water was seeping into the basement from the hole around the water main pipe. I replaced the sump pump and the water drained to about half way, right below an inlet pipe. Water was flowing into the pit from the inlet just as fast as I pumped it out. I unplugged the pump and the water stopped when it rose above the inlet pipe (about half full). why does it seem like the water I am pupming out is coming right back in?

Joe,
Because there are TENS OF THOUSANDS of gallons of water in the soil around your house and foundation. Go read ALL of the columns in my Drainage category and discover how you can possibly eliminate that sump forever using one of my Linear French Drains.

I read your articles about sump pumps and outside drainage systems (4-6 feet away from the house) with curiousity becuase water appears in my basement pretty much everytime there is a solid rain. (1920s house, fieldstone basement, New England area). I'm trying to determine if I should go with the sump pump option, an outside drainage system option, or a combination.

Do you have any guiding suggestions for making this decision?

Michael,
You bet I have some guidance. I want you to call Fred Hoffmeister - the innkeeper at the Maria Atwood Bed and Breakfast in Franklin, NH. I solved his dreadful wet basement issue with one of my Linear French Drains. The water was so deep and there was so much they had wood-shipping pallets on the floor to walk on!

The basement is now bone dry. Did I say this was a 200-year-old building with a stone foundation???????!!!!!!! By the way, this B & B is one of the FINEST I have ever stayed in. Wait until you taste Sandi's maple scones.........

My sump pump alarm has been going off today. I reset it and after a while it starts again. Nothing else appears abnormal.

Pat,
It sounds like the alarm sensor is faulty.

I live in the Chicago area and have exactly the same situation as CJ. My problem is that an enormous amount of water has been ejected, even though it hasn't rained in a while and it's been freezing cold here for quite a while. My low-lying area has a drain, but this has frozen and overflowed. The water ejects out from the house and into the driveway, so now there is about 4" of ice covering the driveway - a huge mess. I can't use a longer drain tube that 3' because the plumber says it would freeze. We expect a sort of thaw in a few days, so I hate to think about all that glacier in the driveway melting back into my sump, only to be ejected again, etc. Please advise, thanks!

MoS,
You install a longer discharge pipe to get the flow away from the drive. Near the house you install a wye fitting that allows you to pour a hot-water salt brine mixture in the pipe if you see it start to choke with ice.

My basement sump pump's check valve make a loud banging noise each time the pump ejects water -- I understand this is normal. The rise is about 10 feet (check valve about 5 feet above pump), which then leads to a gravity-angled pipe. What could be done to eliminate/reduce the banging noise from the check valve? Can I eliminate the check valve altogether?

Steven,
Try a different model. Remove the valve at your own peril....

hi, due to high wind the power to my house was out for about 12 hours. the temp. when below freezing. could the pipes to the sump pump froze? the sump pump is not working, it is bubbling, but water is backing up. what can i do?

Andrea,
My money would be on an ice clog in the discharge pipe where it empties the water outside. Go look at it now and see if it is choked with ice.

Hello,

How can you keep the drainage pipe that disperses the water from your sump pit from freezing outside. I was told that you should have the drainage pipe extended 6 feet away from your foundation. I live in an area that temperature changes drastically.

Jeff,
There needs to be an elevation drop of two or more feet at the end of the pipe. You then have to monitor this and break away ice buildup. Then you need to install a wye fitting near the house with a riser pipe that allows you to add a hot-water brine mixture to the pipe if it starts to choke with ice.

Much of this can be avoided if you just stop the water BEFORE it gets to the sump. Go read all of the columns in my Drainage category to discover how to achieve this.

We moved into a house that had a sump pump at one time. The old pump was disconnected in the pit . No water runs into the pit. What would cause this and what is the fix.

Vickie,
There are hundreds of thousands of people with sumps that would die to have this problem.
You are the first person I have met that wants water to be in a sump.

We moved into an older home and the sump well is just a rectangular hole in the concrete with a sump pump. Is this normal? Also all of the downspouts drain into pipes that lead under the basement floor which is supposed to lead to the sump well, we think, but during heavy rains water ends up on the floor slowly rolling toward the sump well. What can we do to fix this issue?

Thanks!

I just installed a Zoeller Mighty Might submersible pump and did do the vent hole. When the pump shuts off there is a very loud gurgling sound as the water drains from between the pump and the check valve back into the sump. From elsewhere in the house the gurgling is not heard but it sounds like a bang after the pump shuts off. Can anything be done about this noise?

Hi, my sump pump is running continuously and when I had a look the water was hot to the touch so the pump is definitely overheating. I unplugged the pump and I have a back-up but I can't seem to figure out what the problem might be. How do I figure out if it works with a float if I can't see one. My thinking is that the float might be stuck after reading some of your other posts answers or that the pipe might be blocked but I don't know how to determine that either. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Our sump pump seems to work fine. It just runs about every 15 minutes...constantly. This cannot be normal can it? Thanks.

We are trying to figure out how big/powerful a pump should be for our basement. Is there a formula for sizing the right back-up?

Aaron.
I think I would make the roof water drain outdoors to the lowest part of the lot.

Mark,
The bang sounds like it is the check valve. Wrap insulation around it?

L.,
Did you go outside to see if the pump is discharging water? If it is, then all is well. If not, you need to see if there is a blockage.

Pam,
It is absolutely possible. You need to read ALL of the columns in my Drainage category to discover how to stop the water before it even gets inside to the sump.

On the last rainy day my sump pump
would go on every minute.The water goes
into a gully bye the roads edge. That gully was filled with snow. So the pipe coming out to the gully was
submerged under water. The pump would push out the water. Then suck it all back in. My question would be doesn't
a check valve stop that water from coming back in? Thanks Gary

We just had a pretty hard rain. I noticed my sump pump was making an awful noise. I watched it to see what I could find out. When it pumps the water out, it doesn't seem to kick off when it's done. It seems to be trying to pump more water out but not able to suck it out. There was smoke coming from the pump itself. I unplugged it to avoid any further damage. What could the problem be? Is the water level too low?

ehet,
Yes. You calculate the gallons per minute of water that flows into the area and then get a pump that can eject more than that.

I am installing a sump pump myself and I have a question. My builder already has a pit dug. I know I have to run the pvc pipe to the back of the house. Is there a maximum run for that pipe?

Mark,
Read ALL of my sump-pump columns. Pay attention to where I discuss the perpetual-motion syndrome......

Gary,
If you read all of my sump pump columns you will discover more than you might want to know about check valves.

Wow, my first search for my neighbors sump pump problem lead me right to you and the answer I seek. Your description of "air-lock" has to be the problem. Everything seems to work. I do notice a backflow into the pit from the checkvalve to the pump. This creates the "air-lock" right? Just how far up from the base of the pump do I drill the 3/16" hole?

Amanda,
Was the float stuck in the up position and causing the pump to not shut off????????

Dave,

The hole needs to be in the pipe while it is still in the sump. Drill away!

Due to heavy snow fall our community is reminding us to check out sump pumps before the big melt. A friend of mine's leaks as soon as it starts pumping, at the elbow where the discharge heads for the wall. Should this joint be sealed or does it not need to be because the water shouldn't be under pressure? Does this leakage indicate that there may be a blockage, such as ice in the discharge somewhere?

Susan,
You have to determine why it is leaking. I can't say unless I could see it myself.

My sump pump is very loud after it pumps. The air leaving the vent hole is loud and the pump bangs. Is there any way to pevent this noise?

Craig,
Yes. Read all of my Sound and Noise-Control columns.

I am installing a new sump pump and basin in my basement and can't seem to find an answer to this question: What size holes should I drill in the basin to allow good water flow into it? How high from the bottom should I start drilling these holes?

Thx for any help you can me.

There has been a lot of rain and melting snow here in Iowa but I'm a bit concerned as my sump pump has been turning on several times per minute over the last couple days and the pipes shake each time it's done pumping. Does this sound ok, or is there possibly a problem with it (e.g. the pump isn't able to push all the water out)?

John,
Drill one-half-inch holes and start close to the bottom. Space the holes on 4-inch centers.

I just installed a new submersible sump pump. When pump stops it causes PVC pipe to shudder, creating loud noise and vibration. The breater valve is working so its getting enough air. I'm stumped..please help..

Diphu,
That sounds normal in periods of heavy rain.

My newer sump pump broke so I hooked up an older one that I had. When the pump stops the pipe shudders and vibrates the entire house. Thinking it had something to do with backpressure, I removed the check valve. This fixed the problem but the excess water in the pipe comes back into the pit. Is this OK the leave like this, and is there any way to remedy the problem so I can reinstall the check valve.

Keith,
High-school physics my man..... F=ma

Water weighs 62.43 pounds per cubic foot. When the pump stops abruptly, that momentum has to go somewhere. You want less vibration? Secure the pipe.

Keith,
I just answered this in the comment area here or another Sump Pump column of mine.... Look for it.

My sump pump has been cycling on and off every 60 seconds for the past week. The well seems to refill quickly after water is dispursed.A plummer told me it was working fine but seemed to be stumped as to why it was recycling so much. Any ideas?

Frank,
Did you get a lot of rain where you live?

Hi,
I need to replace our existing sump pump and am considering the Water Ace R75VLT or one of several ProFlo models. I'm not finding reviews for either brand. Would you let me know which of the two brands you believe is more reliable? Or, could you recommend another brand that is better. Thanks much! -- Maryellen

Maryellen,
I say the one I like in my other past columns about sump pumps. Use my handy Search Engine to discover them!

We moved into a home which already has a sump pump. This pump is directly under our master bedroom and it makes an awful noise when it pumps. Apart from the actual pump when it stops it stops with a loud bang. We are finding it hard to sleep when we have heavy rain as the pump is going every five minutes. Any ideas

Liz,
Yes. Read all of my Sound and Noise Control columns.

Tim,
I currently have two 1/2 hp pumps in one well to remove ground water from my house. One just went out and I am looking for the most efficient pump available to move the most water possible. In heavy rain events I have seen both pumps running with 1.5" discharge and water, believe it or not, coming over the top of the sump crock. I have changed countless pump switches over the years and would like any input you may provide.

Thank you,

Tim

I am purchasing a new home - Certain repairs need to be made and I'm not very handy. What is an extractor valve for a sump pump? Is it expensive? Can I do it or is it a job for professionals?

Tim,
I vote that you stop the water before it gets to the pumps. Read all of my Drainage columns and especially the ones that contain the testimonials.

Dave,
Never heard of that valve.... Sorry!

We live in a high water table area and our sump pump is running 24/7. Thank God Ridgid offers a lifetime warranty because we replace ours every year. The reason being, is that the pump gets clogged with an orange like substance, known as iron. I probably clean it out 4-5 a year. About a month ago I rented a snake because my PVC pipe was completely clogged shut with iron. This process was done during one of our recent snow blizzards! Is there any product our there that will clean the iron out for me? What can I do instead of giving up and selling my house!!

Marco,
Simple. You can read all of my Drainage category columns and stop the water before it gets to the sump pump.

Quick question-
Just bought this house, and when the inspector was there the sump pump was running constantly, nearly boiling the water in the pit. The previous owners had the outside pipe running under a brick patio and it was frozen. Their fix was a new pipe running to the side of the house. Now, whenever the pump shuts off, it shudders and the pipe makes a loud noise like a semi's exhaust brake for about a minute. What makes this noise?

I have a 17 year old sump pump, a blob of metal cast with a built-in handle (can't see the maker).
The discharge pipe goes 7ft up, then horizontally out. On that horizontal run I have a check (stop?) valve.
Problem: from time to time, after discharge, the basin is almost empty, the pump KEEP ON working, water keep on coming in.
I have to pull the plug and after a few minutes I plug it again and everything is OK.
Is it a sign of a dying pump or....?

Zach,
I answered this already... Read all of my responses.

What size holes should be in the sides of a sump pump basin?

I just asked a question about the size of holes in a basin and then I read your answer above. Sorry. My pump was just installed and they drilled 1/8 holes all around the basin. Is this ok?

Richard,
Maybe the float switch is stuck.

When it comes to back up sump pumps is there any recommendations you can make as far as types or brands. Can you advise which ones are more reliable?

Thanks

George

Glen,
One-quarter inch works pretty well.

I was looking at a new construction home that has a sump pump in the basement. Is this a good or bad thing? Does the fact that there is one, indicate a drainage problem?

George,
I do make recommendations. You didn't read all of my Sump Pump columns. Do it now to discover the brand I use.

Jason,
I prefer houses that do not have them. I have a sump in my own home and have never had water flow up from it onto the floor. I also have never had a basement leak. Why? Read all of my Drainage and Foundation category columns to see how I build leak-proof homes! :->

Our sump pump has been running continuously for the last few weeks. There is standing water at the bottom of the sump tank. Is this normal? We have had a lot of precipitation in the last month, but the running of the pump seems to be excessive. Any suggestions?

My husband and I recently purchased our first home, and we have a sump pump in the basement. Last week we had quite a bit a rain. Friday morning my husband went down to check the pump, because it had not turned on since we have been in the house (for about one week). The carpet was soked.
So he tried unplugging and plugging it back in. Nothing happened. Then he unplugged one cord from the anther cord, which was in the outlet. He then plugged that one into the outlet, and the sump pump turned on. My question is, since we cannot look at the pump due to the top being sealed to the floor, what type of system do we have? Do we have a back-up, since there are two separate cords, and one cord is plugged into another, which is in the outlet? Are we using our back-up? Is it ok to break the seal?
Thank you for your response.

I have a sump pump and a backup battery pump. Both pumps work fine. However, when my pump shuts off, I hear a loud and lengthly vibration. My main pump is a 1/2 horsepower. I followed the directions forinstalling the back up pump. Can you help me?

Recently, we enlarged our basement, and the contractor added a sump pump. During the winter the pump started to discharge out of the "relief valve"(?) positioned abouve ground behind our home. It discharged a signifcant amount of water, enough to cause the yard for several feet around the pipe to be turned into a muddy mess.
Our contractor is claiming that the reason is that the ground is saturated and can accept no more water because of the wet winter. While we did have more than average snow fall, none of my neighbors seem to be experiencing this problem. Is there something that my contractor may have overlooked?

Hello, I was wondering if you could answer a question for me. I moved into a new house with a sump pump in a sump pit. The pump is submersible. The problem is that when the pit fills up the float moves up and turns the pump on but it doesn't suck the water out. What I have to do to get it working is unhook the pipe going outside and pour water down in it. When I plug it back in it starts pumping the water out. Water eventually drains out of the pit when it hasn't rained for a while so the pit is dry. When it fills up again after a rain I have to prime it again. I am guessing it loses its prime when the pit dries up. Is water supposed to stay in the pit to keep the pump primed or do I need to get a new pump. I was thinking on sealing the pit so water will stay in it because that should keep it primed but I wasn't for sure if that was normal or if I need to get a new pump. Thanks for your help.

i have a sump pump that runs fairly regularly, which is fine, but its motor is extremely loud, and the vibration is felt on the floor above it...is there a good pump that i could buy that runs with minimal vibration, but more importantly quiet?

Please advise, how to prevent bad smell from Simp Pump. It usually happenrd when oump is started.

We just bought a house that has a sump pump in it. In the last week we have had 2" of water on 3 sides of our basement which is carpeted. The pump runs constantly. We had at least 2" of rain both times. Is it normal for water to come in a basement that is only 4'in the ground? What do we need to have checked?

My Rigid one HP "Watersense" pump lasted 87 days and failed. Home Depot hassled me a bit about exchanging it. I had the receipt too. The "Watersense" switch was fine. The pump motor was bad. My basement flooded.

The lifetime warranty is only in effect (read the papers that came with the Rigid sump pump) if the sump pump is inspected every five years at a Rigid service center. Who the heck is going to do that?

May sump makes a thumping sound after the discharge. I have drilled the 3/16th hole to let the air out, what can it be now?

battery vs. water power for backup sump pump: what is cost of each system? cost to install each? which requires less maintenance? will each fit into a sump that's apprx. 18" dia. at top by 2 or 2.5 ft. deep? if money is no object (ha!), which system would you install and why? what is best type battery to use with battery backup?

Hi,
I just like to know. I have a sump pit with 4 side concrete and a open clay soil bottom. Can I fill it in with concrete for a nice flat bottom or is this for ground water also.
Thank You

My sump has 60hz 1ph on the top of it. What size portable gas generator would run this sump and an extra electric hose pump when the power goes out?

Katie,

The 60hz, 1ph does not provide enough information to determine what size generator would be needed. Does the nameplate indicate an amp rating? Horsepower? That would be needed to size a generator.

Just bought a new house with a sump pump. Old house had no sump pump and never leaked a drop of water in 22 years. This house has flooded 3 times in the 6 weeks we've had it. Why?

Builder says they put gravel under the cement, similar to a drain field. They also don't cauld between cement walls and poured floor. Why?

Is there some reason builders are no longer building like in the old days, when there was no flooding and no sump systems, and are using sump systems today that causes flooding? Now, I can't finish my basement with bedrooms and family room.

Can you please explain in layman's terms why sump systems are used now, when they cause so many problems.

By the way, our basement is at least 75 feet above the water table.

Thank you,

Bob Riedel

Hi Tim:

I have an outside water drainage and accumulation problem on a property that can Not be solved with normal outside drain field methods due to location, low elevation, and building structure. A small sump catch basin and sump pump system would be a good alternative for this low spot, as I only need to lift the water approx. 18 inches vertically to dispatch it horizonally to a safe drainage area. I have a 15 amp, 120 VAC electrical service near by for power.

The problem is the outside location, subject to freezing weather up to four months each year. Do any of the manufacturers make a system designed for outdoor use in freezing weather ??

Thanks for you help, Bert.

I just cleaned out my sump pit and replaced my submersible pump with a new one. The pit had a large amount of water in it. As soon as I placed the new pump in the bottom of the pit it was activated and worked properly. However, it hasn't activated by itself in two weeks. It only activates when I manually lift the PVC pipe that is attached to the pump. What could be the problem?

I have a sump pump that has a line from the basement steps to the pump, when it rains the water goes in the drain to the pump. Now, I have another line into the sump from the opposite side of the house, and the sump is NEVER dry, even in dry weather. I cannot get the water out of the sump to look at it, as water always trickles in from this other side. What should I do, can I plug the other line, is it from the main lines? I am confused on what to do.

Hello,

My sump pump needs to be proded before it turns on. Is there a reason why? I think there is a pressure trigger inside.

I read all the letters on sump pump questions and you mention over and over to refer to your "Drainage category". Yeah, right. Try to find it!

Neil,

If you look to the left in the list of categories, about 1/3 the way down is the Drainage category. Just click on that word and you will end up in Drainage category. Or copy and paste the following into your browser ... http://www.askthebuilder.com/Drainage.shtml

Our basement got wet when we lost power for 4 days so I was told that we need to purchase a sump pump back up. Where should our search begin?

Hi,
I got a brand new constrution townhome
only to find my finished basement has water leaking in floor-wall joint?I have a sump pump and sheathing arnd foundation wall....what could have gone wrong.
Nithya

I got a brand new constrcution town home only to find mold/mildew in my finishe basement .After ripping the dry wall at the bottom,water leaks between the floor/base joint .Is there a crack or is my drainage not working properly

I recently moved to a house with a sump pump (know little about them). The first few weeks it ran about once a week or a couple of times a day during rain. But over the last few days it seems to be coming on roughly 15 times a day with very little rain lately. Why could this be happening?

my sump pump motor seized and the hole filled with water. i drained the hole by hand and installed a new pump. a few hrs later i smelled a burning smell and the new pump burned up too. what could this bee? maybe debris problem?

Hi, I just installed a new submersible pump in my basement. I am just wondering if it is completely necessary to install a check valve? I have never had one before and haven't had a problem, but the new manual has one in the diagram and i am just wondering if i need to install one. Thanks, Tyler

My pump runs, but I've been noticing that there is water under the house, at the outside basement wall, just about lined up with the sump pump which is about 15 feet into the basement/crawl space. Could it been the pump is draining into the dirt right under it? I've never noticed a lot of water at the white pipe draining out in my side yard...

I have a bad odour (rotten egg smell) coming from my sump pit but only when it rains. The pump does not turn on if its dry outside but as soon as it rains it works on a regular basis as it is suppose to. My problem is the smell coming from the pit makes the house unbearable for hours after a rain storm. Any idea what could be causing the smell and is there a venting system for this problem??

Hi....we moved into our home which rests on a hill with a pond in back below our home. Our sump pump began running nearly constantly several months ago so my husband turned it off. My concern is that turning it off and failing to remove moisture from the foundation could prove problematic. I have not noticed standing water anywhere but I am aware of a musty / moldy odor. My husband said he plans to buy a dehumidifier..... your thoughts please...... thanks so much

I'm considering buying a foreclosed fixer upper. The house has a known groundwater leakage problem in the walk-out basement(which is below ground level). I know I would want to install a sump pump system. My question is, can I re-direct the pumped water to a earthen pond, to be dug in the backyard, or does it have to go to an underground tank? This property in in UP Michigan, with a really high water table.

I have a basement that has a finished section under the middle of the house with two half wall foundations with wall framing attached which seperate the finished area from two areas beneath bedrooms that have almost wall heightsilty dirt backfill. I have noticed that one side of the half walls adjacent to these two areas is slightly lower than the other side. My property has a 1% slope and very little space from the structure for the front yard prior to the sidewalk. The back yard is approximately 40 foot deep from the house but the house was built in the 40's before appropriate space was required between the structures and the property lines. Approximately 65% of my roof drains to the front yard area. In the past previous owners have installed french drains but the yard does not extend far enough to absorb that much water during a heavy rain. This results in the unfinished basement areas building up water. The low point in the foundation wall then becomes a point where the water runs between the wall framing and the foundations half wall and I get some flooding in the finished basement. A previous owner placed a sump in the basement but this is obviously a poor choice of location as the sump pit has never filled. I am thinking about placing a sump in each of the dirt fill areas. However everything I have read indicates that I do not want to put a sump in dirt.
This dirt area is all fine riverbed/farm silt with no rocks. The bedrooms are insulated from below as well as a plastic barrier is located above this dirt. Do you have any suggestions of how I can make a pit in these areas?

We bought a home with 3 sub pumps already in existence- 2 inside the basement which take water out. And one outside the house which continually takes water from around the foundation. We were told the sub pumps were put in since on building the home they dug too deep and hence put in the sub pumps. The home is 15 years old. We had to do minor repairs when a floater malfunctioned, but my concern is going on vacation.
What type of backup would be suitable to monitor all 3 pumps, especially the outside pump against not only electrical malfunction, but also mechanical. Thanking you in advance for your response.

I am bidding on a house. I went to look at it and i saw water in the basement in different areas. the propety has 2 sump pumps and wheni went to one of the pumps, the pit was full with water. I think the pump is broken. do you think this is the most likely cause of the water in the basement. I am confused because the other pump seems to be working with no water in the pit. thank you for your time

hello, my sump pump was discharging water less than 1 ft. from my foundation. Unfortunately, my neighbours house is fairly close to mine, so i had to run the pipe quite a distance out to the edge of my driveway.Now that winter is here and i live in Canada, the discharge is freezing up on me. What options do i have. thanks

my sump pump was just making a small vibration. but not pumping. I pulled it out, stuck the pump with a 3 ft peice of pipe out the discharge into a bucket outside. The float clicks on, but I dont get any pumping, and not even the vibration. Now nothing. I soaked it in hot water to get some of the iron build up off it, but no luck.

Any ideas?

When the sump pump stops, the piping shakes and knocks. Is this a design issue? There are 2 pumps on the single discharge line, they both have check valves. These valves are small almost the size of a reducer fitting, not like the others with rubber sleeves.

I am simply replacing my submersible sump pump. What is the average cost to have it replaced by a professional.

When installing a sump pump liner or basin, would it be a good idea to drill a few small holes in the very bottom so when the ground water table goes low enough the basin will empty, thus the pump won't always be siting in some water??
Thanks, Greg

Our sump pump runs even though no water is seen coming into the sump pit from the plastic pipe. I have noticed that holes were poked into the bottom of the sump pit. Water appears to be perculating into the sump pit from beneath the basement floor -- and then being removed via the sump pump.

My sump pump pit is completely empty. No water at all. It has been raining pretty heavy for the last 24 hrs. Any ideas what the problem may be?

Thanks, Nick

My sump pump motor is working, I can see in to the sump barrel, it is empty, what is wrong? The snow has melted overnight and there is an extreme amount of water, it should have been working nonstop!
thanks

My sub pumb is having a few issues-
when I unplug it it comes on and runs for the time allowed to get the water out.But it doesn't always turn back on.
Can you help?

My sump pump keeps turning on every 3 minutes!! Its pretty loud and annoying and Im not sure if this is normal. I had 2 days of heavy rain and snow melting, then 2 days after that the weather was normal, no rain or anything and ever since then the pump has been coming on every 3 minutes. I checked out the pump itself and it seems to be running fine and the float is not stuck....Is this normal for it to be running this often?? Any help is greatly appreciated!

My sump pump float switch sometimes does not trigger the pump. The pump unit is just over 2 years old in a new home. The float appears to be free and not stuck around the pit wall or wires. A very light jiggle of the pipe that carries the water outside triggers the pump to work. Also a minor nudge of the float with a yard stick works too. The float and pump may then work for several days before this happens again. Sometimes it doesn't work a day or two later too. Any ideas? Thanks.

Help. My Sump Pump is shooting water out of the vent pipe. Any ideas? I have cleaned the screen and it seems to be pumping but also it shoots water out of the vent pipe. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Vince reno NV

What is the life expectancy of a sump pump? I bought my house in 2001 and I have no idea how old my sump pump is. I've never had any issues with it, but I've done major remodeling to my my basement and would hate to have water damage from the pump failing to work one day. Should I consider purchasing a new one before it's on it's last leg?