I own 2 yr old home that i got built, sump pump wasn't thing that i thought of much on first go while i was signing contract with builder. As in previous home i lived we never had sump pump running that frequently. My home is in center of community which grades upwards on both sides. So my home is like between two high areas. Also has a creek that passes at border of my backyard.

But sump pump like crazy for few days after rains and slowly slowly it slows down. I had days in summer when i check my pit was totaly dry. My basement got flooded 3 times. Once initially when i bought home as who so ever installed pump broke its float while installing. Then second time it failed coz it was on GFI plug and tripped (i dont know why it had GFI, as sump pump is supposed to have moisture ), then third time when power went out for like 8-9 hours inbetween very heavy rain. Now its working fine since 1 year, but i am concerned.

My current sump upmp setup :
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1) I have 18"X24" basin that is narrower towards bottom.

2) I have cast iron Star-Rite 1/2 hp sump pump with switch attached to top of pump with some kind of metal support screwed at top of pump. So switch turns on as soon as water eaches top of sump pump.

My question is :
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1) Is this normal for sump pump to run ever 15 secs couple of days after rain?

2) Is there anything i can do to reduce sump pump running frequency.

3)Whats the best prevention method to avoid flooding. If backup sump pump then which is the best. I also read people reviews where they said backups fail because of airlocks as they are not much powerfull.

 

Welcome to the forums.

If you sump pump is running frequently after rain, it sounds like you're getting a lot of water into the basement when it rains and the pump is doing its job.

You want to reduce the frequency? You'll need to find out where the water is getting in and stop it from doing so.

 

Where water is getting in sense like down sprouts from roof? I was planning on digging trench and burying down some pvc pipe to drain water into creek behind my home. But not sure ifs against any kind of building code or not

Also which is best backup system for sump pits?

 

Battery powered backup pump is the most common I've seen.

Could be that you need to divert water away from the foundation with gutters and downspout extensions but it sounds like you may have water rolling in from neighbors on both sides and maybe even a high water table.

 

which is most preffered battery backup sump by plumbers? That is most effective for alot active pits.

 

A battery back up of any kind is good but I doubt that any of them will last for 8 - 9 hours if the pump is running every 15 seconds. You really need to address the amount of water coming into the sump pit. I am guessing that your exterior weeping system is draining into the pit and being pumped away from the house. If that is the case, you need to do some serious landscaping / grading by ensuring that the ground slopes away from your house at least 6 ft. all around and then putting in a swale around your house and down to the creek to try to drain as much water on the surface that you can. Make sure all of your downspouts are extended at least 6 ft. away as well. You should check the pump set up and ensure there is a check valve installed and that it is facing the right way. You could be siphoning the water back into the pit if it is not there or installed wrong. You should also make sure the pipe from the pump is routed to a downhill section of your yard or even into the creek somehow. If it is too short or broken, it may just be cycling the water back through the system

Just a few suggestions - the check valve and downspouts are the first and easiest things to look at.

Good Luck with it!

Jim

 

Check valve is functioning correct. I also see water coming out of pvc pipe at end where it opens into creek. The water that comes in pit is from one pipe than comes into sump pit.

I am planning to re do my yard next summer so will put more grading when i re do it. Any recomendations on it?

I am thinking to buy either Watchdog backup sump pump. I also heard of triple safe sump pump system. Any reviews on that?

 

Where is the sump pump sending the water?