I just purchased a 23 year old house and I was checking the sump pump for proper operation.
This is the first home I have had that uses a sump pit for ground water removal.
What I have found is that my sump pit is about 36" deep with a 4" PVC pipe coming into the pit about one half to two thirds up from the bottom of the pit.
I have also noticed that the water level in the pit stays pretty much at the three quarters full level as there is a sediment ring around the pit at the three quarters full level and that is where the water level likes to stay.
Today as I checked the operation of the sump pump I poured about a gallon of water into the pit and the pump turned on emptying the pit in just a few seconds and the pump turned off when the water level reached the bottom of the pit.
As soon as the sump pump turns off after emptying the pit I can hear and see water coming from the 4" PVC pipe coming into the side of the pit.
The water level then rises back to the three quarter level in the pit and then stops rising and the sump pump does not go back on until I pour more water back into the pit.
Now this seems like everything is operating correctly but what has me concerned is the water coming out of the 4" PVC feed pipe bringing the water level to three quarters full in the pit.
My first thought was that the water table must be above the level of the 4" PVC feed pipe.
Does this sound feasible?
Also I noticed there isn't a float switch on the sump pump but there is a smaller round device located next to the sump laying on the bottom of the sump pit with cord going to the electrical outlet and the sump pump cord piggybacking into the cord from the device laying into the bottom of the pit.
Could this device be the switch such as a diaphragm pressure switch which controls the operation of the sump pump?
If so, are diaphragm pressure switches adjustable to control when the pump turns on and off?
Like I said earlier I am concerned about the water level in the pit riding at the three quarters full level as it's normal level. And also it seems the the operation of the sump pump is set up for this level as it seems to function properly.
The reason I am trying to educate myself about the operation of the whole system is because I wanted to purchase an additional pump and switch to have in reserve in case I ever have to replace them if they fail.
Thanks for taking the time to read this post and I look forward to any information I can receive on the operation of my sump system.
This is the first home I have had that uses a sump pit for ground water removal.
What I have found is that my sump pit is about 36" deep with a 4" PVC pipe coming into the pit about one half to two thirds up from the bottom of the pit.
I have also noticed that the water level in the pit stays pretty much at the three quarters full level as there is a sediment ring around the pit at the three quarters full level and that is where the water level likes to stay.
Today as I checked the operation of the sump pump I poured about a gallon of water into the pit and the pump turned on emptying the pit in just a few seconds and the pump turned off when the water level reached the bottom of the pit.
As soon as the sump pump turns off after emptying the pit I can hear and see water coming from the 4" PVC pipe coming into the side of the pit.
The water level then rises back to the three quarter level in the pit and then stops rising and the sump pump does not go back on until I pour more water back into the pit.
Now this seems like everything is operating correctly but what has me concerned is the water coming out of the 4" PVC feed pipe bringing the water level to three quarters full in the pit.
My first thought was that the water table must be above the level of the 4" PVC feed pipe.
Does this sound feasible?
Also I noticed there isn't a float switch on the sump pump but there is a smaller round device located next to the sump laying on the bottom of the sump pit with cord going to the electrical outlet and the sump pump cord piggybacking into the cord from the device laying into the bottom of the pit.
Could this device be the switch such as a diaphragm pressure switch which controls the operation of the sump pump?
If so, are diaphragm pressure switches adjustable to control when the pump turns on and off?
Like I said earlier I am concerned about the water level in the pit riding at the three quarters full level as it's normal level. And also it seems the the operation of the sump pump is set up for this level as it seems to function properly.
The reason I am trying to educate myself about the operation of the whole system is because I wanted to purchase an additional pump and switch to have in reserve in case I ever have to replace them if they fail.
Thanks for taking the time to read this post and I look forward to any information I can receive on the operation of my sump system.
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