Seeking input on sump pit pipes
#1
10-18-05, 08:45 PM
Seeking input on sump pit pipes
I have a sump pit in my garage that has two 5 inch clay pipes coming into it; one parallel to the rear of the home, the other parallel to the side of the house. I have a two part question: 1. what is the purpose of these pipes; and 2. does it hurt anything if water backs up into them before the sump pump kicks in?
#2
10-19-05, 05:19 AM
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Sounds like these are your "drain tile" pipes which rout water from your foundation base into your sump pit for evacuation. It is normal for water to accumulate in your pit until the switch on your sump pump senses the water reaching a level high enough to trigger the pump motor. Once it starts pumping, the water level falls to a level which dissengages the motor.
On your second question, are you saying that water is backing up into the pipes or is it flowing downward into the pit (water flowing into pit vs. into the pipes)? Water SHOULD flow into your pit and not backwards into the drain tile. You want your pump mechanism to turn on such that water does not accumulate in the drain tiles.
On your second question, are you saying that water is backing up into the pipes or is it flowing downward into the pit (water flowing into pit vs. into the pipes)? Water SHOULD flow into your pit and not backwards into the drain tile. You want your pump mechanism to turn on such that water does not accumulate in the drain tiles.
#3
10-19-05, 02:35 PM
What I mean is, the water will accumulate to the point where the water flows BACK into the pipes, away from the pit. It doesn't do this for long until the pump kicks in and drains it out. I could conceivably dig the pit a little deeper, which would allow the pump to be lower, thereby making the pump kick on sooner. I'm just trying to have it so the pump doesn't come on any more than it has to, which is why I wanted to know if it's ok for the water to run back up into the pipes a little.
#4
10-20-05, 04:57 AM
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It's best not to have water accumulating in your tiles. The idea is for the drain tiles to facilitate the removal of water away from your foundation vs. them serving as a temporary storage location for it.
Can you look at your pump to see if there is an adjustment on your float switch (ex. shorten the tether length) such that it kicks on at a lower level? I would favor running the pump more often vs. allowing water to accumulate in the drain tiles.
Can you look at your pump to see if there is an adjustment on your float switch (ex. shorten the tether length) such that it kicks on at a lower level? I would favor running the pump more often vs. allowing water to accumulate in the drain tiles.
#5
10-20-05, 04:29 PM
Yeah, it's a newer Zoehler pump and I'm sure there's a way to adjust the "kick-on" level. If not, it's a gravel bottom pit, so I could always dig it deeper to allow the pump to sit lower, which would mean it would come on before the water reaches the tiles. Thank you for your input!!
