Sump pump
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Cross-Country
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 96
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From: Washington, D.C.
Sump pump
Anyone here very experienced with sump pumps?
I bought a house in 2006, the previous owner replaced the sump pump in 98 I believe.
It has only gone off a few times since I have been here, but since we got all this rain that melted all this snow (Maryland) the pump has been going off every 2-5 minutes since probably 4am.
Nervous about it, I went to Homedepot and bought a Rigid .5hp sump pump. I though about replacing it tonight but figured I would be better off waiting until store hours in case this one does not work out of the box, and the old one quits after I remove it and have to put it back.
My wife says 'just leave it alone, its working now aint it'.....But thats my wife
Anyone else experience this, or have any advise?
I bought a house in 2006, the previous owner replaced the sump pump in 98 I believe.
It has only gone off a few times since I have been here, but since we got all this rain that melted all this snow (Maryland) the pump has been going off every 2-5 minutes since probably 4am.
Nervous about it, I went to Homedepot and bought a Rigid .5hp sump pump. I though about replacing it tonight but figured I would be better off waiting until store hours in case this one does not work out of the box, and the old one quits after I remove it and have to put it back.
My wife says 'just leave it alone, its working now aint it'.....But thats my wife
Anyone else experience this, or have any advise?
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,476
Likes: 224
From: Frequently frozen MN
Could be just fine -- sometimes there are certain conditions that result in more water in the sump. However, I do wonder about freezing.
Sump pumps are pretty simple -- a pump and a switch. Often they also put a drainback valve in as well to prevent water from draining back into the sump.
You should be able to access the sump and see if it's actually pumping the water out. If the outlet is frozen, then the level will not change much while it's running. ( I assume that you can't see the outlet).
If the outlet is frozen, you might be able to just thaw it with an electric heater/hair dryer etc. That might be be enough if it's just due to unusal weather consitions.
If it's pumping good, but filling rapidly, it might be due to the way that the ground is frozen.
Do you know if the new pump has the right size outlet? Also, it might have different dimensions -- I don't think that there are any standards.
Sump pumps are pretty simple -- a pump and a switch. Often they also put a drainback valve in as well to prevent water from draining back into the sump.
You should be able to access the sump and see if it's actually pumping the water out. If the outlet is frozen, then the level will not change much while it's running. ( I assume that you can't see the outlet).
If the outlet is frozen, you might be able to just thaw it with an electric heater/hair dryer etc. That might be be enough if it's just due to unusal weather consitions.
If it's pumping good, but filling rapidly, it might be due to the way that the ground is frozen.
Do you know if the new pump has the right size outlet? Also, it might have different dimensions -- I don't think that there are any standards.
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Cross-Country
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 96
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From: Washington, D.C.
Its putting out water fine, nothing frozen, the rain brought 50 degree weather so all the snow we got melted in less than 24 hours. Like it never snowed.
Now its starting to slow down how many times it cycles on/off
What I'll do in the morning is attach a longer discharge line to the existing one to carry the water further away from the house and install the new one with a check valve....If I wake up early enough, I cant seem to get sleepy off this JD Old No.7.
Thanks for the input.
Now its starting to slow down how many times it cycles on/off
What I'll do in the morning is attach a longer discharge line to the existing one to carry the water further away from the house and install the new one with a check valve....If I wake up early enough, I cant seem to get sleepy off this JD Old No.7.
Thanks for the input.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,562
Likes: 2
From: Southern MD
Definitely check to see if there's a check valve at the pump's outlet!
My neighbor's sump pump didn't have one, and as soon as the pump stopped, the water in the pipe ran back into the sump!
Also, as you said, make sure that the outlet pipe goes a reasonable distance from the house.
When my house was built, the outlet pipe ended 6 inches from the outside wall!
My neighbor's sump pump didn't have one, and as soon as the pump stopped, the water in the pipe ran back into the sump!
Also, as you said, make sure that the outlet pipe goes a reasonable distance from the house.
When my house was built, the outlet pipe ended 6 inches from the outside wall!
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 4
From: Lafayette, IN
It sounds like it's working just fine. Not to mention, it's plumbing, so if it is working, DON'T MESS WITH IT!
If it's running every few minutes, and you don't have water outside the sump pit, it's doing its job just fine. A check valve can be a good thing to have, but it doesn't sound like you have much of a water problem to begin with, so it may not be worth the hassle to install one.
In my last house, if we got 2" of rain in an hour on saturated ground, or 6" in 24 hours, my cellar-style basement would fill to the brim, and the sump pump would run continuously until it was drained, up to two days sometimes (depending on how quick the water in the neighborhood went down also).
Jason
If it's running every few minutes, and you don't have water outside the sump pit, it's doing its job just fine. A check valve can be a good thing to have, but it doesn't sound like you have much of a water problem to begin with, so it may not be worth the hassle to install one.
In my last house, if we got 2" of rain in an hour on saturated ground, or 6" in 24 hours, my cellar-style basement would fill to the brim, and the sump pump would run continuously until it was drained, up to two days sometimes (depending on how quick the water in the neighborhood went down also).
Jason
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,166
Likes: 2
From: wi
mine runs like that also in the spring when it thaws. i do keep an extra on hand tho just incase. i learnd that lesson the hard hay,6" of water on the basement isnt any fun. if its pumpin good id leave it alone,the waters probably coming in about as fast as the pump is getin rid of it
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,409
Likes: 1
Nothing is wrong with your pump! It cycles off and on as it is supposed to, and the water is being pumped outside. Keep the new one in the box to replace the old one when it breaks, but they usually have a long life. If the old one dies. take it out of the pit, attach the hose to the new one, and put it back into the pit. Plaug it in and you are good to go! Sounds like the old one is doing the job.................
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Cross-Country
Joined: May 2007
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From: Washington, D.C.
Thanks guys. Now its cycling every 15 minutes or so.
Just in case it was cycling its own out put I put a longer discharge line on, its 20ft. The pump is 1/3hp, so when it cycle it runs for about 2-3 seconds longer.
I'm taking this RIGID pump back to THD, I'm getting the exact replacement for whats in the pit now. I found a receipt from the previous (original) owner of this house when he bought the pump. 1994!!!! Its a Wayne pump.
Now if it has been sitting in there since 94, and I'm sure he had it serviced, then I'm sticking with what works. I found the exact same model he bought. In 1994 he paid104.99 (including tax).
Same store has the same model now selling for 130.00..But, since I extended the discharge line I'm grabbing a .5 horsepower instead of the 1/3 for 149.99
Just in case it was cycling its own out put I put a longer discharge line on, its 20ft. The pump is 1/3hp, so when it cycle it runs for about 2-3 seconds longer.
I'm taking this RIGID pump back to THD, I'm getting the exact replacement for whats in the pit now. I found a receipt from the previous (original) owner of this house when he bought the pump. 1994!!!! Its a Wayne pump.
Now if it has been sitting in there since 94, and I'm sure he had it serviced, then I'm sticking with what works. I found the exact same model he bought. In 1994 he paid104.99 (including tax).
Same store has the same model now selling for 130.00..But, since I extended the discharge line I'm grabbing a .5 horsepower instead of the 1/3 for 149.99
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Cross-Country
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 96
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From: Washington, D.C.
This morning I ran out and grabbed a sump pump, I went to the same store the previous owner went to, 14 years ago, and got the same make of sump pump the previous owner got, but 1/2hp instead of 1/3
.
The old one sounded like it was dying this morning, I could hear more and could actually here the bearings grinding went it cycled.
Hooked up the new one and dropped it in, works like a champ, of course whisper quiet too. It drains so fast, reminds why I like more power.
Here's what the old one looked like
.The old one sounded like it was dying this morning, I could hear more and could actually here the bearings grinding went it cycled.
Hooked up the new one and dropped it in, works like a champ, of course whisper quiet too. It drains so fast, reminds why I like more power.
Here's what the old one looked like
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