sump pump

[bobofhollywood]

we're having a natural disaster here . . . The power went off and the sump pump is of course electric . . . which means water is coming into the imperial laundry studio and phonograph archives. . . it's a natural disaster . . . hopefully damages will be minimal as nearly everything is off the floor and there is a floor drain too. . . but still . . . DANG !

 

[a440]

Bob,

Hope you get your power back on soon! That sounds terrible!
I hope your things will be safe.
Are you going through a bad storm now?
Brent

 

[bobofhollywood]

update

power is back on but sump pump has quit working at all. water is flowing like a river from one side of the basement to the other where the floor drain is and there is no way I can keep up with my wet vacuum. all my downspouts are clear and there is nothing else I can do but run the dehumidifier and wait for the rain to stop. indeed we are having a terrible rain storm currently and it is still coming. but at least the power is on and the air conditioner works. DANG DANG DANG

 

[circlew]

Sounds like you need to look into getting a battery back-up sump pump and/or a generator. Hope you won't have too big a mess; I've gone thru several basement floodings with sewer water, and it's no fun.

 

[bobofhollywood]

rain water

well that's another good point. . . at least this is just clear rain water and not a sewer back up. . . and at least I can fix the sump pump motor myself without calling anyone . . . . after the storm passes by . . .

 

[iheartmaytag]

I am so sorry that this is happening, I know what a mess it is.
I know it is of no help to you now, but instead of battery back up sump pumps that only run for a short while. You may want to consider a water powered back up. They are simple, reliable, and not that expensive. That is unless you have your own water system, then it's moot.

I hope this flooding stops for you soon.

 

[bobofhollywood]

water powered

sounds cool and I never heard of that but yes I am on an independent electric water system. artesian well so DANG DANG DANG DANG

 

[volvoguy87]

Sump Pump.

I grew up with a sump pump, and I agree that they can have a rotten sense of humor. On ours, the float switch would get stuck, often when the power failed and the pit flooded. Once the power came back on, the pump would sit there with the jammed float switch and one of us would have to don big rubber boots to go and free the stupid thing. On a few pumps, the float would actually fill with water and sink. Try getting a coat hanger and hooking the float to pull it up. Also, some pumps have a piggyback plug where the switch is plugged into the back of the motor plug. If you unplug the switch from the motor plug, the motor will run.

If the motor runs, but it doesn't pump, turn it off, lift it an inch or two to let whatever is clogging the inlet fall off, then start it again.

Good luck,
Dave

PS: Stupid question, but is the breaker and GFCI plug/outlet/breaker on and not tripped?

 

[westingman123]

I know this sounds funny,

but my sump pump just needs a kick at the drain tube after the power has been off. Something sticks, I think, and it only takes that little "wiggle" to engage the pump.

 

[bobofhollywood]

check check and check

The power is on at the outlet, I have kicked and kicked the DANG thing and just now I even reached down the well with my bare hand after unplugging the cord and made sure the float was not down - even actuated the switch several times up and down but no motor action at all. I really appreciate all the kind thoughts though fellas . I will replace the whole DANG thing as soon as I can suck up all the water with my wet vacuum. Hugs to you all.

 

[neptunebob]

I think some people first heard about a sump pump on an epis

I could not find the video, there are so many, but at the beginning of one episode was a conversation like this:

Frasier: "This is Dr. Crane. I'm listening".

Caller: "We have some money in the bank and my wife wants to take a vacation to Europe but I want to get a new sump pump. What should we do"?

Frasier: "Your wife wants a life time experience. Go take the vacation to Europe you will get so much culture".

Caller: "But I think we really need a new sump pump and I don't think we can afford a vacation to Europe".

Frasier: "Arrrgh! These people! Roz, what in the world is a sump pump!?"

Roz: "If you needed one you would know."

In my opinion I would think a house that had a sump pump would be a turn off to me. It's another source of mold and trouble. I agree with Dr. Crane on this one. Would they be popular in Seattle (always rains)

 

[mixfinder]

Ulgy Luxury

Bob, I'm sorry you have spend money of something that isn't glamorous, fun at parties and sits on the driveway for the enighbors to drool over, but the day they quit is the day any price is reasonable. Our house in the country had a pond in the back yard and in the summer irrigation water routed through it and on down to the neighbors. Our sump ran continuosly in July and August. I'm sure that the entire basement would have turned into a cistern without the pump.

 

[neptunebob]

But Kelly given a choice, don't you think Frasier was right? But he lived in an apartment, so did not know about a sump pump. Are the pumps popular in Seattle (always rains). When my sister the dentist lived in Erie they had one. She didn't know what it was. I think it was because they were near Lake Erie.

 

[mixfinder]

Chicago not Seattle

Seattle used to be known for miserable drizzle that was perpetual. Some cherry souls referred to it as "kind rain". The shift in weather has done away with the drizzle. Its often gloomy and chilly but not so often damp. I have never seen a sump pump in a Seattle home. In the midwest they're as ubiquites as a toilet. The house we had with a sump was in eastern Washington which is extremely arid and things only grow if you pipe in irrigation.

 

[mayguy]

Battery back up one we have can run I think 6 or 12 hours (depends on the battery) after our flood in the SE MN, we sold a lot of them fast!

 

[bobofhollywood]

over a foot of rain fell in Hollywood

Not a single pump left to be had today anywhere in the entire county of St. Marys . Fortunately I can report that I did not experience any loss or damage in my Imperial laundry studio and phonograph archives. I have removed the completely lifeless pump motor and under the circumstances will try to fix it since replacing it is not currently an option. I wet vacuumed up over 500 gallons of water. Oh my achin' back. Thanks again for all the support , fellas . HUGS to you all.

 

[richardc1983]

Washing machine drainage pump used as sump pump?

I was thinking as a cheap alternative could a washing machine pump be used as a sump pump?

 

[bobofhollywood]

replacement

Amazingly my sisters husband had a spare pump motor which is a direct replacement to my old one. Even the old inch and a half pipe fit directly into the new one. I won't even have to go to the hardware store and will be able to complete the job in no time. Pictured the old motor is on the left. Already switched the pipe from it onto the replacement motor on the right and will next put the whole thing back together down in the basement. WHAT A RELIEF !

 

[bobofhollywood]

all done !

Installed tested and working perfectly. It's a miracle.