Re: Sump Pump Question

On Jun 9, 8:23 am, "hall...@aol.com" <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Jun 8, 11:35�pm, "Robert Green" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > "Paul Franklin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> >news:od0p44lh25mpqtvuusb5mi12p4b8uqjv9t@4ax.com...
>
> > > On Sun, 8 Jun 2008 06:13:13 -0400, "Robert Green"
> > > <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > > >My new "Water Ace" R33SP submersible sump pump has a little label on the
> > > >bottom that says "air vent must be cleaned periodically to prevent air
> > > >locking."
>
> > > >How often is that? �Are all sumps pumps like that or should I return this
> > > >for one that doesn't require hauling out of the sump pit to clean? �From
> > > >what I see we are talking about a 1/8" opening that seems like it should
> > be
> > > >labelled "guaranteed to clog as soon as warranty expires."
>
> > > The vent has to be small because it is on the outlet side of the pump
> > > and allows water to flow back into the sump. �FWIW, I've never had one
> > > clog. �I suppose if you have a lot of mud and gunk in the pit it may
> > > clog occasionally.
>
> > > Not all pumps have the vent built in; some just tell you to drill a
> > > 1/8" hole in the output pipe below the check valve.
>
> > > In general, it's a good idea to pull the pump at least once a year to
> > > inspect it, and to clean the input filter screen anyway. �Just take a
> > > nail and poke it through the vent hole when you've got the pump up.
> > > And while it's out, clean any major gunk out of the pit. �A messy job,
> > > yes, but better than a flooded basement.
>
> > Thanks, that's helpful, but not what I wanted to hear. �)-: �That pump is
> > going in a nasty, hard to reach place. �I would prefer to spend more money
> > for less maintenance. �It will be bedded down in gravel, too, to keep leaves
> > and other debris out of it and help anchor it.
>
> > I am now thinking of inserting a 6" length of clear tubing in the drain pipe
> > so I can check for good water flow. �Not sure if I would know there was an
> > airlock until there was a flood, and then the pump is even *harder* to reach
> > than usual. �(-:
>
> > Thanks for the input. �Oddly enough, my newsreader attached your reply to
> > the same-named thread of last August.
>
> > --
> > Bobby G.- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> why bed it in gravel? the exhaust line is a good anchorage, and ifyour
> concerned with leaves surround it with screen.
>
> sounds like a outside sump?
>
> put the pump in a seperate sumpo pump pit, in a convenient place to
> service, and hve water pass from collection point to pump pit, thru a
> filter pit, a screened easy to reach spot.
>
> dont ignore the possiblity of a gravity drain to daylight.......
>
> gravity tends to be highly reliable:)- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

the most important thing is to make sure the pump runs for a few
seconds at least once a month so that the bearings don't seize up.

Mark

<[email protected]> & > > <[email protected]> wrote:

> > >My new "Water Ace" R33SP submersible sump pump has a little label on
the
> > >bottom that says "air vent must be cleaned periodically to prevent air
> > >locking."

<stuff snipped>

> I would prefer to spend more money for less maintenance. �It will be
bedded down in gravel, too, to keep leaves
> and other debris out of it and help anchor it.
>
> I am now thinking of inserting a 6" length of clear tubing in the drain
pipe
> so I can check for good water flow. �Not sure if I would know there was
an
> airlock until there was a flood, and then the pump is even *harder* to
reach
> than usual. ďż˝(-:
>

>why bed it in gravel? the exhaust line is a good anchorage, and ifyour
>concerned with leaves surround it with screen.

Primarily because that's the way the old one was installed. It ran
unmaintained and unattended for 19 years so I thought "if it ain't broke . .
." The sump sits at the bottom landing of the basement stairs on the
outside of the house. Leaves collect like crazy. The sump was protected by
a metal grate (22" by 24" with 1" squares) that was laid onto a sheet of
wire mesh. Can't tell who made it, the plate has rusted too much although
perhaps some CSI fans could recover the date. (-:

>sounds like a outside sump?

Yes, hence the concern about leaves, twigs and other crap. This pump has a
rather unusual float switch. It's a metal bulb a little smaller than a
toilet float, but there's no metal arm or shaft. It's connected to the pump
at the cord so that when the sump is empty it lies next to the pump as the
water rises, it floats up.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=43577-48284-57
639-LWS1&lpage=none

also: http://tinyurl.com/yurszr

looks the most like it, but I find it disturbing that the one I bought last
month (169491) is now no longer listed. That suggests they aren't holding
up so well. Shazzbat. )-:

> put the pump in a seperate sumpo pump pit, in a convenient place to
> service, and hve water pass from collection point to pump pit, thru a
> filter pit, a screened easy to reach spot.

Best solution would be a pedestal pump installed inside in a new sump, but
the flooding problem is so rare (years go by without flooding) that with my
*four* new pumps will handle it. The small Flotec has an input hose stuck
down the basement center floor drain, which my "consulting crew" believes is
connected to the public storm drains. That's pretty likely because when
water comes up through that floor drain, it has the very distinct smell of
the street when it's rained for the first time in weeks. No raw sewage has
ever come up (crosses fingers!). Anyway, there's an electronic leveI have a
1/3 HP battery backup sump pump which I was going to install in the sump
next to the AC pump, but I've decided to keep it in reserve in case friends
or neighbors need a pump out after a failure.

> dont ignore the possiblity of a gravity drain to daylight.......gravity
tends to be highly reliable:)

That's a good idea, but I live at the intersection of two raised state
highways and there's a large field behind the house. When I see standing
water in that field (the lowest point around) I know the basement will
flood. But you've given me a good idea. I might be able to determine the
relative elevations of my basement floor and the field out back with my GPS.
If it turns out to be lower, and if I run a long enough pipe, I might be
able to gravity drain the sump.

What I am most afraid of is that I will spend lots of money pumping water
around from the outside into the sump and back outside again. There are
just some situations where all the pumping in the world isn't going to
change the level of the water table.

It looks like the storm that is battering the Midwest is heading this was so
I am looking for a rubber ball that I can jam into the floor drain and then
keep forced in place with a plywood plate braced against the ceiling joists.
We'll see what happens.

Thanks for the input.

--
Bobby G.