Sump Pump Running every minute!

[magic_minnow]

With this heavy rain, my sump pump has been running every minute or so, give or take 15 seconds. I understand that is an exceptionally heavy rain and I live in an area of clay soil, absorption is minimal. Usually the sump, under normal conditions, runs about every half hour or so. I've checked the check valve and its still operating, not obstructed. Discharge line is not obstructed and is draining like normal, except that it is discharging every 45s to a minute. Some suggest I may have a leaking city sewer, some say its just the heavy rain, but i'm afraid with the sump running every minute or so it'll burn out. No backup system and my house is graded fairly well, it drains to the sewer in my back yard. I do not have gutter on the back of the house, but gutters on the front. Any wise information for me? Currently finishing up the basement too, last thing I need its a wet basement

[CAMAN]

Just keep a close eye on it. Make sure the float moves freely and apply some wd40 to the float arm to keep it from sticking.

Don't worry, there are a lot of sump pumps out there that run like that, including mine. A few year ago I installed a drain system in my backyard that drains the excess water in a couple low spots and my two downspouts to the street. It helps for normal rains but when the ground is still frozen and we get rains like we are experiencing it still comes on once a minute.

Also one thing I HIGHLY recommend is a water alarm. Set it so it is just a couple inches higher than the highest point the water should be when the pump turns on.

[tacklejunkie]

As long as it's pumping water, you should have no issues. The problem would come if that float thing gets stuck and it pumps but it's dry. Then you run the risk of burning out the motor. I had that float get stuck on the cord one year and it ran and ran even when the water was pumped out and it conked out.

[Bryce]

Ours is running just like yours. Caught a window well filling up a couple hours ago. It's under our deck so hoping there was still some frost to keep it from reaching the perimeter tile. Bucketed out what I could and has since drained down. Hope the frost broke or I have longer term issues to deal with. Next wave of the monsoon is just about upon us.

[delcecchi]

You might consider having a spare sump pump in stock in the basement, just in case. And maybe one of those utility pumps with a hose as well.

My daughter put in battery backup pump which I haven't done yet. Might be worth considering if you have a lot to lose in the basement, also make sure you have the proper insurance coverage.

[magic_minnow]

a window well filled up? geez...and we're still facing up to 5 more inches! my sumps still running like mad, 1 year old only so im hoping itll last through this monsoon were having. im am seriously considering the backup battery. im guessing menards has em? maybe i;ll just buy a spare sump while im at it, any suggestions on brands?

[WWW]

Sounds like you have checked the check valve. They can not close all the way and under certain conditions siphon water back into the tank. Had mine do this this spring but it cycled on about every ten minutes. Had me scratching my head trying to figure out what was going on. Held the float up to pump the tank down to the bottom. turned off the pump and you could see the water coming from the bottom of the pump.

A second pump to have on hand is a good idea. Battery back up pumps are good to but not with out parts that can also fail. You can also get cheap water detectors that are much like a smoke alarm. Set them on the floor and they go off when wet.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I would highly recommend gutters to keep as much water as far away from the foundation as possible.

A battery backup is a very good idea. As is a backup pump.

Make sure your sump pump discharge line is a long way from the house. The further the better.

[delcecchi]

I haven't gone with the battery backup yet, but if the pump goes after the stores are closed it could be a long night, and it is not that expensive to have around.

[Bambito]

I am in the same boat as all of you. We bought our house 4 years ago and when we looked at it our realtor told us that where our house sits used to be swamp land 15 years ago. Never thought much of it until we moved in and the sump ran every 2 minutes come spring time. I have installed two pumps in the hole. One sits on the very bottom and the other sits above that one on the other side of the hole. Both connected to the same pipe. If my bottom one fails the other one will kick on before the water reaches the top of the hole. I also have an alarm that will go off and I have that set so it will sound if the bottom one fails so I can fix it or replace it while the second one does its job. I also have a battery back up one just in case. My neighbor actaully has a camara and an alarm that he can monitor his sump pump with his cell phone. They are retired and leave a lot so if his sump pump fails it will call his phone and then he would call me and i can either try to fix it or call a plumber for him. Call us paranoid or smart which ever but I don't care to clean up a mess in our finished basement. Summer fall winter sump pump season;)

[BartmanMN]

I would highly recommend gutters to keep as much water as far away from the foundation as possible.

A battery backup is a very good idea. As is a backup pump.

Make sure your sump pump discharge line is a long way from the house. The further the better.

And make sure the spouts are connected. Noticed one of mine blew off today and was in the back yard. Luckily I was home and got it back on and put the neighbors back on while I was out there. If that comes off, you essentially are pouring all the water on your foundation. Yikes.

[CAMAN]

Quote:

You can also get cheap water detectors that are much like a smoke alarm. Set them on the floorand they go off when wet.

Bad idea, because once it gets wet it is already too late and carpet/pad replacement is a guarantee. Installing it in the basin a couple inches higher than the maximum normal operating height is the best way. It will go off and IF you are home and notice it will give you the best chance to fix it. If you aren't home you are probably screwed either way.

I have a Basement Watchdog pump. It has two pumps in one (Normal 120 volt and 12volt Battery backup) and an alarm. If the 120 volt fails or power goes out the alarm turns on and triggers the backup pump. I had a normal builder installed cheapo pump until a couple years ago when the float stuck while I was gone. Flooded the basement and had to replace all the carpeting. Haven't had an issue since. We even had the power go out for 2 days last year and the backup was able to keep up. Brought one of my TM batteries in just in case but didn't need it.

[Tom7227]

I guess you could almost go on forever about backups to backups, but something you need to consider is an extended power outage. A battery system will work for a while but you probably will be using a pump that has a lower gallon per minute (gpm) or gallons per hour(gph) output and less ability to carry the water upward (head) to an outlet than you have with your 120 volt system. So in instances where the current pump is running every few minutes and dumping probably 7-10+ gallons per cycle you may find that a battery backup isn't enough.

Just checking a combination AC pump with a battery backup pumps 2600 gph at 10 feet head when on AC but only 1000 gph when using DC. No info on the HSOforum about how long it would work with a fully charged battery. The previous poster said he had 2 days worth of use from is which is great.

About the best solution is the ability to attach the pump(s) to a gas powered generator. At times like this the ground is saturated. That means the pumps are going to keep going for a long time but also that the chance of a power outage is higher due to trees falling. I wouldn't rule out a battery backup system but not sure I would bet an expensively finished basement on that alone.

[delcecchi]

They do sell riders for homeowner insurance to cover if a sump pump goes belly up.