I have a sump pump in the basement which is for the bathroom there. Currently when any water is run or flushed in that bathroom the sump pump goes into action but is not cutting out in the usual 8 seconds or so, but runs continually for several minutes. What might the problem be?

 

Hopefully you have a sewage ejector and not a sump pump if you are using to pump drainage from a bathroom. Is the pipe coming out 1.5" or 2"? If its smaller than 2" you need to replace it with an ejector.

Otherwise you could either have a stuck float switch, or your pump could be partially plugged, or a check valve sticking shut. Does the water pump out of the pit but the pump continue to run after the water level drops? If yes float switch is sticking, free it up or replace it.
If the water doesn't pump out quickly as it should then you either have a plugged pump, a restriction in the line or a worn impellar on the pump. If the line is not restricted, and the pump has much age or corrosion on it, replace the pump otherwise it could be disassembled and cleaned up.
Cleaning or replacing a sewage ejector is not a job for the squemish, so you may want to consider having a pro do it. If you do it yourself be sure to seal the lid and bolt it down or the odor will haunt you till you do!
Happy Plumbing!!
plumber john

 

Thanks for the info. I don't know whether I have a sump pump or an ejector. I moved into this house when it was 1 year old and I'm tired of the plumbing problems and bills!!I live in Indiana where new houses have low flush toilets which are a nightmare. I just hope whoever invented them is living with them too! Had the plumber out twice recently already. The pipe from my pump is at least a 2 inch pipe. I think it may be more. The water level drops when the pump runs but I can't tell if the water is going out more slowly than usual or if it is the pump continuing to run after the water is pumped out. I think it is the former as I can hear water moving along the pipe the entire time. It seems to me that the pump used to run every time the toilet was flushed but now it runs only on the second flush. I think the water level may be higher. I can not be sure as there is very little space to see into the water level unless I unscrew the lid of the pump and I have never had reason to look and see what the normal water level may have been before this started to happen.
Are the things you mentioned easy to check by me if I take off the lid, or do you think I should just call the plumber, again!

 

What did your plumber tell you when he came out?
-plumber john

 

The plumber wasn't out for the sump-pump. I had other plumbing problems with two other toilets.This bathroom and pump have never given me any trouble until now. I had 11 teenage girls in the basement for a sleepover that night it started with the problem of running. Is it possible they flushed something down the toilet that could be causing the problem?
Heather

 

My best sense of this situation would be to call the plumber, This probably wouldn't be a good project to try and do without proper training. It could end up costing more in the long run if the project ran into complications.
Best of luck to you, plumber john

[This message has been edited by jjohnson@nckcn.com (edited October 16, 2000).]