Archive for the ‘Backup sump pump’ Category

photo credit: swanksalot

Water bills are escalating as the cost of maintaining water supplies to us is passed on directly to us by the water companies. So a water leak can add considerably to your water bill.

Naturally a leaking tap/faucet wastes water. So too does a leaky toilet, which are often caused by a leaky flush valve. These can cost cents to fix and replace yourself.

Signs of a major water leak include, slow time to get hot water out of your shower/tap and if you shut off your water main and your water meter is still going.

What many people may not think of though is their Sump Pump. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 7% [?]

Technorati Tags: Sump pump, water leaks

I’m installing a sump pump in my basement which is about 6
feet below ground level and want to run an effluent pipe about 20 feet
horizontally . (ie. the pipe will run 2 feet up from the basin, make 2
right angle turns, head up the basement wall, make another right angle
turn to go through the wall, then another turn and run about 20 feet
or so into the drain pipe away from the house). This is necessary to
locate it at the deepest part of the basement.

My question is: is there are a limit to how many "turns" and the
total distance  of an effluent system ? If so, how is this calculated

thanks in advance.  

Bill

Popularity: 8% [?]

Technorati Tags: horizontally, pipe, pipes, Sump pump, turns

When do most homeowners find out that their sump pump has failed? When it is too late! It is raining cats and dogs, rain water is contributing to the ground water and the water table is rising quickly. As the ground water level reaches the float activation set point. Regularly the sump pump will kick on and keep the water level below the basement slab, thereby alleviating the hydrostatic pressure below the basement floor.

Sadly, many homeowners find out the hard way that their sump pump is not working properly. The water table rises beyond a controllable level and hydrostatic pressure begins forcing water through floor cracks and floor/wall joints. The outcome is increased moisture levels inside the basement, which can lead to poor indoor air quality conditions, and in severe cases can lead to standing water filling up inside the basement causing havoc and misery.

The most important thing homeowners with basement waterproofing systems (sump pumps, basement drainage, etc.) can do is complete regular factory recommended maintenance procedures included in the manual that came with the sump pump. If a basement waterproofing company or local contractor/plumber installed the system they should have given you the original product manual. Many waterproofing companies offer annual maintenance to assist you in the maintenance of your sump pump(s) and waterproofing systems. It is highly recommended that if you decide to go forward with contracted maintenance that you ask lots of questions about how the company will service the system.

Regular maintenance should include removal of debris and obstructions from the sump liner and any cleaning of filters or screens that are attached to the sump pump. It is recommended that drains and sump pump systems are flushed with hot water regularly. This ensures that any debris or iron bacteria colonies do not build up and become obstructions to the flow of water. Do not run any type of hazardous cleaning chemicals (bleach, ammonia, detergents, etc.) through any drain or sump pump systems.

If your sump pump has a removable screen (usually at the base) most waterproofing professionals should remove them and use a wire brush to clean the impeller of the pump. Proper maintenance should also include testing of the sump pumps operation and the float switch (if applicable). Water discharge lines should also be checked to ensure that the water being pumped out is flowing freely and to an area that will not allow the water to seep back into the basement.

If open drains are part of your basement waterproofingsystem (bulkhead trenches, garage trenches, etc.) be sure to test them for efficiency frequently. If your basement waterproofing system includes a battery back-up, it should also be tested and maintained. Any open-cell batteries should be filled to factory recommended levels with distilled water.

As mentioned earlier in this posting, always follow the factory recommended maintenance procedures. It is recommended that you have maintenance completed at least twice a year. The most important times to maintain your waterproofing systems are after prolonged dormant times and before typical heavy usage times. Every area is different but experience with Massachusetts weather patterns has proven that February (Winter thaw) and September bring the most sump pump failure complaints.

Author: Lois Bartels

Lois Bartels is the owner of Green Bear Innovations, Massachusetts greenest home improvement company offering green insulation, basement waterproofing, foundation repair, sump pump installations, mold and radon assessment and remediation… We use energy efficient products, recycled/recyclable materials and hold a high standard for resource conservation during all installations. We are based in Reading, MA and serve the entire state and also RI, CT and NH.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lois_Bartels

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Popularity: 11% [?]

Technorati Tags: alleviating, basement slab, drainage, float, hydrostatic pressure, level, maintanenance, Plumber, Pump, Sump pump, water pump, waterproof

If you’ve recently learned about the existence of a household appliance referred to as a sump pump, you might be wondering how a sump pump works, and what it’s needed for.

Since the basement of a house is below ground, when the soil of the ground gets saturated with rain water, that water can leak into the basement. And leaking in the basement can cause thousands of dollars in damage.

Sump pumps are needed more in areas which have lots of flooding, or when the house is below the water table line. However they’re useful as a precaution in any house which has a basement, since that basement is always at least partially underground.

A sump pump is a machine which sits in or above a small hole in the basement floor. The hole is referred to as the sump hole or sump pit, and it’s designed to catch any water that might enter the basement of a home.

As water fills up the sump pit hole, the sump pump kicks on and starts pumping it out through various connected pipes. Sump pumps can drain into the house’s main water drainage system, or drain directly outdoors away from the foundation of the home. This keeps the basement itself from getting flooded, because the water is actually diverted into the hole and then moved out by the sump pump.

Sump pumps usually have a float which triggers them to turn on and off. When the water rises in the sump pit hole, the sump pump float rises as well. When that float reaches a certain height, the sump pump automatically turns on and starts pumping the excess water out.

Sump pumps are usually wired into a house’s main electrical system, but it’s critical for them to have some kind of power backup as well. Many sump pumps use car style batteries as a power backup, but if you don’t like the idea of having a battery in your basement, you can sometimes get a sump pump that is run off the water pressure in your home.

Regardless of what type of backup power system you choose for your sump pump, you need to be sure there actually is a backup. Sump pumps are most needed during storms and flooding, and these are common times for the electricity to go out as well. If the electrical power goes out and the sump pump doesn’t have a backup power source, it will not be able to prevent flooding in your basement.

Some people use a five gallon bucket for their sump pit, and this can actually cause problems in the long run because there is not enough room for the sump pump to work properly. When the sump pit is not large enough, the sump pump’s float can get stuck into position because the pump is holding it against the side of the pump. Making sure your sump pit is at least 18 inches across and 22 inches or more deep can keep this problem from happening.

Author: Diane Crawford

More Information on How Does a Sump Pump Work can be found at http://www.sumppumphelp.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diane_Crawford

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Technorati Tags: how it works, how to, Sump pump

I just bought a house 2 weeks ago. It’s an older house and I noticed what appeared to be old water stains on the walls in the basement, along the floor. We asked the sellers about them, they said it was the result of a previous backup from the drain (they said the washing machine, in the past, would cause the drain to backup into the basement but with once monthly vinegar and baking soda down the drain the problem was a thing of the past). They said explicitly that they had not had any water come into the basement from outside in the 15 years they had lived there. They have no sump pump, and they had carpeting (not installed, just a large rug) on the floor and appeared to use the space as living space. We asked them at least twice about the water, both times getting the same answer. Well, we’ve had about 6 inches of rain over the past 2 weeks (a result of the hurricanes, even though I’m in the Midwest) and I’ve had seepage into my basement along the east and west walls pretty consistently for days. Yesterday, however, I got running/standing water for the first time. It ran from both the east and west wall about 5 feet in toward the middle of the basement.

Obviously, I’m not pleased. The deal’s done on the house…but my question is do I have any sort of recourse against the sellers for essentially lying about the water in the basement? I’ve had water down there for a nearly 2 weeks straight, and now running water. There’s no way they didn’t know about it or just…I don’t know forgot to say “oh, yes.”

If anybody has any information let me know.

My thought it so invest in a sump pump and waterproofing system but it runs about $6000 on the low end (I had an estimate last week). Is there any way they are legally responsible for any portion of the cost?

Thanks!

Oh, I guess I should metion I'm in Illinois because these sorts of laws can probably vary by state.
As per the first answer…

I was hoping at least to gain some info. before contacting legal help…I really don't want to be going down this road with these people.

Yes, 6 inches IS alot of rain. My point is, I had water down there the 2nd day it started.

And the $6000 is for a sump pump AND basement dewatering system such as BDry.

when the seller sells a house they are asked questions on a form you should have that form one or more of the questions pertain to water you may have a case if you can prove that they had water in the last 15 yrs

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