Sump Pumps

Gary Usa_2

hiya,this may help you a bit with relation to sump pums and keeping them operational,when i was in the uk we use to use them alot in them old damp basements,they did suffer alot with debris etc getting into them,what i useto do was either get a small plastic tank or a large enough bucket one to accomodate the size of the sump pupm i was using,dig the hole big enough to put either one into the hole,drill holes about 3-4 inchs from the bottom place the sump pump inside the plastic tank or bucket,so that when water sueto surround the plastic container any sediment rubbish could not come into contact with the pump,got some plastic pipe glued it together with some elbows place it under the sump pump so that no rubbish could come into contact with it,used a non return valve to keep the pump primed ,however in the winter season could freeze,as the pipe would remain with water,so i sometimes used a heat trace wire just to keep it from freezing on a copper discharge pipe along with a pipe thermostat so the heat trace wire would only come on when it got below feezing or what ever you wished to set it at.

hope this may give you room for thought on this

all the best

gary usa

larry

I know this isn't a heating question, but I figured the collective wisdom of this community might suggest a good direction...

Anyone have a suggestion for an excellent bullet proof sump pump? My mom's basement looks like a sump pump museum as we have yet to find a reliable unit in over 40 years of trials and tribulations. The current one has a float that travels on a vertical bar with a lever attached to a switch. The float travels freely but doesn't always turn on the pump. If you lightly tap the float with a stick it turns on. Her long standing plumber has basically given up. He comes over and taps it with a stick and declares the unit works OK now. A visit from a different plumber gave the same result. The pump still doesn't turn on all the time, and the basement still floods as a result.

I've decided to take matters into my own hands, and replace the pump on our next journey to her house. Any suggestions on a new pump? I've done some research and found this pump by Little Giant that looks interesting - model 6-CIA. It seems to have a diaphram switch rather than any kind of float. Anyone use this pump?

eric_2

Little Giant

is a good little pump. Beware of clogging though if you have a lot of sediment in the pit. You might want to consider Zoeller as well. They make some excellent pumps. Another bit of food for thought is a battery back-up system for when the power goes out otherwise no power = no pump. Hope the info helps, drop me a line if I can be of further assistance.

nick z.

Little Giant

Makes good pumps. Make sure the pump you mentioned will have enough water above to make the diaprahm work.Hydra Matic also makes very good pumps. They cost a little more, but less then a basement full of water.

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Suggestion

My parents basement has the same collection. Expensive ones, cheap ones, different methods of actuation.

If it is pumping up any appreciable distance (more than 2' or so) make sure a flow-check valve is installed. If you don't the water in the pipe flows back into the sump nearly filling it and short-cycling is the result.

Dale

Good to see you

Gary, for the real expensive basements since power goes out in lightning storms here you can get a water powered pump. I know this sounds like a joke but the pump uses city water pressure to run the pump and the discharge water goes out with the sump water. Can't remember the brand name but I remember the first time I saw one and couldn't figure out why it had no power to it, Of course it did have power, the power of the water tower head. How's the work going so far? Done any fishing. Regards, Dale

todd s

Zoeller

#53 is a great pump. We have used them for years.

larry

Thank you

Many thanks for the advice.

Currently a flow-check valve is not installed, so I will install this in the rework. Previous plumber #1 installed the existing pump in a large plasic bucket as suggested. Plumber #2 said the float was hanging up on the bucket so I'm told he removed the bucket. On previous visits my inspections showed that the float wasn't in contact with the bucket. Hopefully the bucket wasn't thrown out.

eric_2

ZOELLER

makes the water powered back-up system you're talking about.