For years I had a sump pump that turned on at a predetermined depth of water in the sump and then turned off when the water level reached a low point. That sump pump has failed. The sump is a tile that is 9" by 9" so I am quite limited in what sump pump I can buy. It must be small. I bought an "automatic" pump at Home Depot and installed it. The problem that I now have is that the pump goes on and then shuts off. More water then flows into the tile and the pump immediately turns on. So, it is constantly turning on and off.
Does anyone know if there is a pump that works the way my old pump did? Or is there some gadget that will delay the pump turn on when there is some depth of water in the sump?
Sump Pump problem
Posts
Re: Sump Pump problem
#2Check to see if the float on the new pump is adjustable. It may be as simple of a fix as raising the float up a little.
Re: Sump Pump problem
#3
Not sure. Is the cycling controlled by pressure or a float?
Re: Sump Pump problem
Edited #4I can not say with any certainty what your problem is.......but, I have had the experience of having a pump fail.......then going shopping for a replacement.......and then installing the new pump. What is possibly happening is that during the time you did not have a working pump, water was accumulating in the drain field that your pump services.......this happened to me......so my new pump had to work almost non-stop for awhile to catch up on all that water.
Re: Sump Pump problem
#5
This may be a symptom of a sump pump with no check-valve on the discharge pipe. A check-valve is a one-way valve that prevents backflow when the pump turns off. If the pump is turned off without a check-valve present, the water in the discharge pipe may backflow into the basin, activating the float switch to turn on the pump.
Re: Sump Pump problem
#6The pump is submersed. No float, no adjustments. And yes Roger, I ordered a check valve yesterday. I also think that I would be better with a pedestal pump rather then a submersed pump.
Re: Sump Pump problem
Edited #7
@Ralph Lipeles,
I agree, but I couldn't find any float pumps that meet the 9" pit diameter. If not the check valve, it will be a matter of inflow vs. outflow. It could be it pumps incoming water too fast and quickly pumps it out and shuts off. Then it detects new water and cycles back on before the pit gets even partially filled. A float can cycle based on the depth of water in the pit, so it can be set to turn on only when the water get so high in the pit, and then turn off once it has removed it. This prevents it from short cycling and uses the pit volume most efficiently.
This reminds me of an issue I had with my toilet hardware. A few years back I replaced the standard float valve mechanisms with a new type that didn't have floats. Was supposed to be the latest technology that worked better. I could never get them adjusted correctly, and eventually they failed to turn off at all, and I started getting $300 water bills (normally $30). I stopped washing clothes and bathing to no effect--except on my social life. Went back to float valves and the problem was solved.
Added later 18 min 35 s:
An option would be to install a non-automatic pump and add a tethered float wired in line with the hot going to the pump, assuming it is 120VAC.
https://stephenspandh.com/4-types-of-sump-pump-float-switches
Re: Sump Pump problem
Edited #8How deep is the sump pit? A separate float switch should fix the problem (see two options below). Because the 9" diameter hole is rather small the Vertical Float Switch might be a better option than the Piggy Back switch. Otherwise, can you raise the pump level (sit on brick(s) or cinderblock, or whatever) so it only cycles on at a higher water level? The switches are widely available from many sources.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-Piggy-Back-Float-Switch-for-Sump-and-Sewage-Pumps-EBFSWPB/205618058
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-Vertical-Float-Switch-for-Sump-Pumps-EBPBV/205618047
Re: Sump Pump problem
#9Ummmm....woodworking??
Re: Sump Pump problem
#10Brian Roberts wrote:Ummmm....woodworking??
He did buy the pump at Home Depot and they sell wood. 
This should be moved to the Other - OpenTopics. Of course, there is concern that it will be less likely to be seen but unless this happens the Open Topics will never get into popular use. Similar sites have very active "other topics" forums and I find them a great source of varied information that can be both educational and interesting.