I moved into my house durring this winter and now going through spring
thaw, it has also been raining for 3 days straight and now the sump pump
in my basement that I have not had any issues with before is backing up.
My utility sink and washer both drain into the sump pump crock so the pump
runs frequently and has never backed up before. I checked it out to see if
the float was maybe lodged on something and it seems fine. I started
taking the water out and emptying it into a bucket but no matter how much
water I take out of the crock the water doesnt get any lower. So I sat and
watched to see what the pump was doing. It will kick on and I can here the
water draining through a pipe in the basement wall but it will only run
for about a minute and drains about 1/2" of the water then stops, when it
stops the same amount of water runs right back into the crock from the
drain pipe and I'm right back where I started. I know that there shouldnt
be any backflow into the crock. Any ideas???
det1015
-------------------------------------

det1015 wrote:
> I moved into my house durring this winter and now going through spring
> thaw, it has also been raining for 3 days straight and now the sump
> pump in my basement that I have not had any issues with before is
> backing up. My utility sink and washer both drain into the sump pump
> crock so the pump runs frequently and has never backed up before. I
> checked it out to see if the float was maybe lodged on something and
> it seems fine. I started taking the water out and emptying it into a
> bucket but no matter how much water I take out of the crock the water
> doesnt get any lower. So I sat and watched to see what the pump was
> doing. It will kick on and I can here the water draining through a
> pipe in the basement wall but it will only run for about a minute and
> drains about 1/2" of the water then stops, when it stops the same
> amount of water runs right back into the crock from the drain pipe
> and I'm right back where I started. I know that there shouldnt be any
> backflow into the crock. Any ideas???
> det1015

If the float switch is working right, the pump may be tripping an internal 
protection switch. If you are using it for laundry water, maybe some thread or 
cloth has gotten into it and is binding up the impellor.

What happens when you manually operate the switch?

det1015 wrote:
> I moved into my house durring this winter and now going through spring
> thaw, it has also been raining for 3 days straight and now the sump pump
> in my basement that I have not had any issues with before is backing up.
> My utility sink and washer both drain into the sump pump crock so the pump
> runs frequently and has never backed up before. I checked it out to see if
> the float was maybe lodged on something and it seems fine. I started
> taking the water out and emptying it into a bucket but no matter how much
> water I take out of the crock the water doesnt get any lower. So I sat and
> watched to see what the pump was doing. It will kick on and I can here the
> water draining through a pipe in the basement wall but it will only run
> for about a minute and drains about 1/2" of the water then stops, when it
> stops the same amount of water runs right back into the crock from the
> drain pipe and I'm right back where I started. I know that there shouldnt
> be any backflow into the crock. Any ideas???
> det1015
> -------------------------------------

By chance is their a check valve in the pump drain pipe that is not 
working thus allowing back flow?

There is a check valve on the drain pipe but I am not sure how to tell if
this is the problem and if it is what do I do about it? Since there is a
check valve the only way for backflow to be happening is if the valve is
bad or is there anything else that could cause it?
det1015
-------------------------------------
IGot2P wrote:

> det1015 wrote:
>> I moved into my house durring this winter and now going through
>> spring
>> thaw, it has also been raining for 3 days straight and now the
>> sump pump
>> in my basement that I have not had any issues with before is
>> backing up.
>> My utility sink and washer both drain into the sump pump crock so
>> the pump
>> runs frequently and has never backed up before. I checked it out
>> to see if
>> the float was maybe lodged on something and it seems fine. I
>> started
>> taking the water out and emptying it into a bucket but no matter
>> how much
>> water I take out of the crock the water doesnt get any lower. So I
>> sat and
>> watched to see what the pump was doing. It will kick on and I can
>> here the
>> water draining through a pipe in the basement wall but it will
>> only run
>> for about a minute and drains about 1/2" of the water then
>> stops, when it
>> stops the same amount of water runs right back into the crock from
>> the
>> drain pipe and I'm right back where I started. I know that there
>> shouldnt
>> be any backflow into the crock. Any ideas???
>> det1015
>> -------------------------------------

> By chance is their a check valve in the pump drain pipe that is not 
> working thus allowing back flow?

det1015
-------------------------------------
Bob F wrote:

> det1015 wrote:
>> I moved into my house durring this winter and now going through
>> spring
>> thaw, it has also been raining for 3 days straight and now the
>> sump
>> pump in my basement that I have not had any issues with before is
>> backing up. My utility sink and washer both drain into the sump
>> pump
>> crock so the pump runs frequently and has never backed up before.
>> I
>> checked it out to see if the float was maybe lodged on something
>> and
>> it seems fine. I started taking the water out and emptying it into
>> a
>> bucket but no matter how much water I take out of the crock the
>> water
>> doesnt get any lower. So I sat and watched to see what the pump
>> was
>> doing. It will kick on and I can here the water draining through a
>> pipe in the basement wall but it will only run for about a minute
>> and
>> drains about 1/2" of the water then stops, when it stops the
>> same
>> amount of water runs right back into the crock from the drain pipe
>> and I'm right back where I started. I know that there shouldnt be
>> any
>> backflow into the crock. Any ideas???
>> det1015

> If the float switch is working right, the pump may be tripping an
> internal 
> protection switch. If you are using it for laundry water, maybe some
> thread or 
> cloth has gotten into it and is binding up the impellor.

> What happens when you manually operate the switch?

The sump pump is fully under water because it is one that is mounted to
the bottom of the crock and the crock is full. The float is not on a small
electrical line like most that I have seen. It is underneath a lip on the
pump and is attached by a 3-4" long thin metal rod...when the float rises
on the metal rod and reaches the lip on the pump it kicks on. Well the
float is at the top of the metal rod (due to the pump being fully
submerged) and the pump will not stay on for longer than a minute at a
time. I have pulled the float down and back up and the pump does nothing.

det1015 wrote:
> det1015 had written this in response to
> http://www.thestuccocompany.com/maintenance/Re-Sump-pump-backflow-369458-.htm
>>
> There is a check valve on the drain pipe but I am not sure how to
> tell if this is the problem and if it is what do I do about it? Since
> there is a check valve the only way for backflow to be happening is
> if the valve is bad or is there anything else that could cause it?
> det1015
> -------------------------------------
> IGot2P wrote:
>
>> det1015 wrote:
>>> I moved into my house durring this winter and now going through
>>> spring
>>> thaw, it has also been raining for 3 days straight and now the
>>> sump pump
>>> in my basement that I have not had any issues with before is
>>> backing up.
>>> My utility sink and washer both drain into the sump pump crock so
>>> the pump
>>> runs frequently and has never backed up before. I checked it out
>>> to see if
>>> the float was maybe lodged on something and it seems fine. I
>>> started
>>> taking the water out and emptying it into a bucket but no matter
>>> how much
>>> water I take out of the crock the water doesnt get any lower. So I
>>> sat and
>>> watched to see what the pump was doing. It will kick on and I can
>>> here the
>>> water draining through a pipe in the basement wall but it will
>>> only run
>>> for about a minute and drains about 1/2" of the water then
>>> stops, when it
>>> stops the same amount of water runs right back into the crock from
>>> the
>>> drain pipe and I'm right back where I started. I know that there
>>> shouldnt
>>> be any backflow into the crock. Any ideas???
>>> det1015
>>> -------------------------------------
>
>> By chance is their a check valve in the pump drain pipe that is not
>> working thus allowing back flow?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>  

det1015 wrote:
> det1015 had written this in response to
> http://www.thestuccocompany.com/maintenance/Re-Sump-pump-backflow-369452-.htm
>  :
> 
> det1015
> -------------------------------------
> Bob F wrote:
> 
>> det1015 wrote:
>>> I moved into my house durring this winter and now going through
>>> spring
>>> thaw, it has also been raining for 3 days straight and now the
>>> sump
>>> pump in my basement that I have not had any issues with before is
>>> backing up. My utility sink and washer both drain into the sump
>>> pump
>>> crock so the pump runs frequently and has never backed up before.
>>> I
>>> checked it out to see if the float was maybe lodged on something
>>> and
>>> it seems fine. I started taking the water out and emptying it into
>>> a
>>> bucket but no matter how much water I take out of the crock the
>>> water
>>> doesnt get any lower. So I sat and watched to see what the pump
>>> was
>>> doing. It will kick on and I can here the water draining through a
>>> pipe in the basement wall but it will only run for about a minute
>>> and
>>> drains about 1/2" of the water then stops, when it stops the
>>> same
>>> amount of water runs right back into the crock from the drain pipe
>>> and I'm right back where I started. I know that there shouldnt be
>>> any
>>> backflow into the crock. Any ideas???
>>> det1015
> 
>> If the float switch is working right, the pump may be tripping an
>> internal 
>> protection switch. If you are using it for laundry water, maybe some
>> thread or 
>> cloth has gotten into it and is binding up the impellor.
> 
>> What happens when you manually operate the switch?
> 
> The sump pump is fully under water because it is one that is mounted to
> the bottom of the crock and the crock is full. The float is not on a small
> electrical line like most that I have seen. It is underneath a lip on the
> pump and is attached by a 3-4" long thin metal rod...when the float rises
> on the metal rod and reaches the lip on the pump it kicks on. Well the
> float is at the top of the metal rod (due to the pump being fully
> submerged) and the pump will not stay on for longer than a minute at a
> time. I have pulled the float down and back up and the pump does nothing.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

Sounds like you are ready for a new pump.

s

det1015 wrote:
> det1015 had written this in response to
> http://www.thestuccocompany.com/maintenance/Re-Sump-pump-backflow-369452-.htm
>>
>
> det1015
> -------------------------------------
> Bob F wrote:
>
>> det1015 wrote:
>>> I moved into my house durring this winter and now going through
>>> spring
>>> thaw, it has also been raining for 3 days straight and now the
>>> sump
>>> pump in my basement that I have not had any issues with before is
>>> backing up. My utility sink and washer both drain into the sump
>>> pump
>>> crock so the pump runs frequently and has never backed up before.
>>> I
>>> checked it out to see if the float was maybe lodged on something
>>> and
>>> it seems fine. I started taking the water out and emptying it into
>>> a
>>> bucket but no matter how much water I take out of the crock the
>>> water
>>> doesnt get any lower. So I sat and watched to see what the pump
>>> was
>>> doing. It will kick on and I can here the water draining through a
>>> pipe in the basement wall but it will only run for about a minute
>>> and
>>> drains about 1/2" of the water then stops, when it stops the
>>> same
>>> amount of water runs right back into the crock from the drain pipe
>>> and I'm right back where I started. I know that there shouldnt be
>>> any
>>> backflow into the crock. Any ideas???
>>> det1015
>
>> If the float switch is working right, the pump may be tripping an
>> internal
>> protection switch. If you are using it for laundry water, maybe some
>> thread or
>> cloth has gotten into it and is binding up the impellor.
>
>> What happens when you manually operate the switch?
>
> The sump pump is fully under water because it is one that is mounted
> to the bottom of the crock and the crock is full. The float is not on
> a small electrical line like most that I have seen. It is underneath
> a lip on the pump and is attached by a 3-4" long thin metal
> rod...when the float rises on the metal rod and reaches the lip on
> the pump it kicks on. Well the float is at the top of the metal rod
> (due to the pump being fully submerged) and the pump will not stay on
> for longer than a minute at a time. I have pulled the float down and
> back up and the pump does nothing.
>

So, the float is way under water, and the water never drops down to the float 
level? Does the pump cycle regularly, without ever moving the float? If so, 
something else is causing the pump to turn off after a short run time, which 
takes us back to a thermal protection switch or some such thing.

Does it just keep cycling for the same short period, over and over? A short time 
on, and longer time off, with little change in water level from after the pipe 
drains back until it turns on again? Again, something binding the impeller could 
activate a thermal protection switch.

Can you disconnect the output and see if it keeps pumping then? Does it continue 
running then? Is the water flow good? Look for a plugged outlet pipe then.

Does water come out of the outside pipe?

If you unplug the pump for ten minutes so it can cool off good, then plug it in 
again, does it start pumping right away? Does pushing the float down quickly 
stop it? Multiple times? This would suggest that the switch is good.

Since the pump only takes out about half the water before stopping, it
sounds like the float switch either needs to be adjusted or
replaced.   It should empty most of the water before turning off.

Second, if you're sure the water is running back in from the drain
line, as opposed to the sump pit refilling with water running in from
perimeter drains, ground water, etc, then the check valve is not
working.   But given it's Spring thaw and heavy rain, the pit may just
be refilling with normal ground water.

Since it sounds like this pump is critical and it's age and condition
is unknown, if it were me, I'd probably replace it.   And I'd also
install a second backup pump that has a battery backup too, so that if
one pump fails or you lose power for a few hours you won't get
flooded.

Finally, depending on where the water is being discharged, it may be a
code violation to discharge sink and washing machine water with the
sump pump water.

On Apr 21, 8:45=A0pm, s...@foo.com (det1015)
wrote:
> I moved into my house durring this winter and now going through spring
> thaw, it has also been raining for 3 days straight and now the sump pump
> in my basement that I have not had any issues with before is backing up.
> My utility sink and washer both drain into the sump pump crock so the pum=
p
> runs frequently and has never backed up before. I checked it out to see i=
f
> the float was maybe lodged on something and it seems fine. I started
> taking the water out and emptying it into a bucket but no matter how much
> water I take out of the crock the water doesnt get any lower. So I sat an=
d
> watched to see what the pump was doing. It will kick on and I can here th=
e
> water draining through a pipe in the basement wall but it will only run
> for about a minute and drains about 1/2" of the water then stops, when it
> stops the same amount of water runs right back into the crock from the
> drain pipe and I'm right back where I started. I know that there shouldnt
> be any backflow into the crock. Any ideas???
> det1015
> -------------------------------------
>
> 

a 1/4 hp sump at about 6 ft head should pump about 25 gpm, so you are
dumping 25 gpm back in? does the pump turn on and off with the float
rod, you said no but you said it runs a minute so it sounds like the
float works. This makes no sense, your pipe wont hold more than maybe
a gallon or so unless you have a real long run. A new pump and check
valve is cheap. You are probably wasting enough electricity to pay for
a new pump in a few months.