Archive for April, 2009

The electricity in my vacant house was temporarily turned off and my basement flooded, but it drained out. Is there something I need to check on the sump pump to make sure it will continue to work properly, or will it continue to work automatically now that the power is back on?? Please help, I don't need my basement to flood again, I'm trying to sale it.

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Can anyone provide me with an overview of the process that I need to use to drain my pool using a sump pump? Is the sump pump actually placed into the pool (i.e., it is waterproof), or does it have connected hoses that feed into the pool?

I have no doubt that I will receive instructions on how to use the sump pump to drain my pool when I either rent or purchase one, but I thought backup from people with experience would be helpful.
With regard to why I do not just drain using my standard equipment, my DE Filter unfortunately has only backwash and filter as an option. I cannot simply rinse or bypass the filter and drain the pool.
Also, I have purchased a Wayne 1/2 HP 2,400 GPH Submersible Utility Water Pump #VIP50. The cost of the pump equalled two days of rental.

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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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I just bought a house and I've noticed that my sump pump comes on about every 30-45 minutes. Thats seems a bit excessive so I'm wondering if it needs to be replaced. The house is about 4 years old and it sits at the bottom of a hill so I'm told the sump pump comes on because I get the water from the homes that sit above me. I would appreciate any advise or ideas as I am a first time home owner. Thanks.
i also forgot to mention. The house was not winterized before we bought it so the sprinkler system busted. But we turned off the water to the sprinkler…so that should stop water from flowing to the sprinklers, right? Besides, its winter and we wont be using the sprinklers until Spring so we werent concerned about fixing it right away…unless it is what's causing the sump pump to kick on..hmmmm

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One of the significant problems that many households face after rainy seasons is the accumulation of water in the basement, not just stopping the inhabitants from entering the basement but also resulting in a pretty stinking smell. The solution comes in the form of a sump pit, a hole in the basement floor where the water can go down and stand. It is ideal to have the basement floor made in such a way that the slope is towards the sump pit, so that the water would go in there by itself.

If you let the water stand in the sump pit for long durations, it can grow algae and collect debris too, and may also promote some other unhygienic problems. A pump is most often useful when draining water out of the sump pit. While rainwater standing in the basement is the major problem that a sump pump solves, it is also helpful if water accumulates in the sump pit because of any other reason like a higher water table in the surroundings.

While dry wells or municipal storm drains are more ideal for dumping this dirty water, some old houses may have their pumps throwing water into the sewerage lines, which is usually prohibited by law as this can negatively affect the sewerage system. Now let’s see how sump pumps work and what types are available.

Normal homes keep their pumps on automatic by connecting them with the main electrical supply. This is something you should do due to the possibility of water spilling out of the pit and flooding the basement. For this very reason, a backup power supply is arranged using batteries so that the pump will keep working even in cases of electricity failure.

Sump pumps are available in two types: submersible and pedestal. Submersible sump pumps are shorter in height (around 12 inches) and are mounted into the bottom of the sump pits. Some of these pumps come with a floating electrical switch that is enclosed in plastic and floats above the water. When water enters the pit and the water level rises, the electric switch also goes up and automatically turns on when it comes to a specific height. In submersible pump systems, water is evacuated from the bottom; some of the sump pumps come with a top that covers them such that trash won’t be able to get into and ruin the pump.

Pedestal sump pumps, on the other hand, are fitted on a pedestal and are usually 30 inches high. A pipe goes all the way to the bottom of the sump pit and is connected to a motor placed above the pit. The same type of floating electric switch is used to turn on the pump; however, these get switched on before water comes closer to the motors as the motors are non waterproof and may get harmed if they come into contact with water.

Author: Scott S. Rodgers

Scott Rodgers is a master plumber who has recently begun writing articles for both a plumbing and non-plumbing audience. To view more of plumbing articles, visit http://eLocalPlumbers.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_S._Rodgers

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