I'm struggling with a wet basement and need to verify if my sump pump is kicking on and off at the correct water height, and if changing it will help.

I live on a hill that descends south to north, and the sump hole was dug on the north east corner of the basement. This may have been done because they stupidly finished the basement and then had to find a place for the sump hole.

To make matters worse, on the northwest corner they put in a floor drain that I just recently discovered appears to connects to the outside footer drain. Not sure why, other than the footer eventually went somewhere downhill away from the house into maybe a dry well, but now is plugged. I literally get water bubbling (no kidding) up from that drain during heavy rain. Naturally this will make a great secondary sump hole, and I plan to put it in.

Right now most of the water is coming in from that silly drain, and to a much lesser extent the southeast, and east side of the basement. Despite my plan to put in a sump hole where the floor drain is, I am skeptical it will help the southeast, and east side of the basement.

As mentioned, I have a crudely dug sump hole with PVC basin, submersible pump and tethered switch. There is gravel in the bottom of my PVC basin upon which the pump sits, 17" below the basin top. Not sure how high the tethered switch floats from the pump - maybe 6"-8".

I've read you want the pump set to never let the water get past 1 or 2 inches over the top of the foundation drain pipe entering your sump. Problem is I don't have drain pipes as it is an after the fact dug sump hole. All I have is gravel outside my basin through which water seeps.

So I am wondering if lower the height of my sump pump will help my southeast and east side of the basement, and what would be the proper float turn on/off height?

Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance.

Hi Dac122...

I would tether the float switch so that it doesn't hit the side of the pit in any manner whatsoever. Then I would use some common sense and I would experiment a bit with what height to place the float.

You can start down pretty tight to the pump... couple inches above... and see what happens during the next storm. Make adjustments until you find that placement that works best for you.

Finally, if you can still return the pump and purchase a sump pump like a ZOELLER or a LITTLE GIANT that has an integral float (no float switch on a separate cord) then I would recommend it as these corded float switches seem to fail just when they are needed.

The zoeller pump, for example, has a float that can't catch anything and isn't mechanical in itself... just a float attached to a lever arm... very few issues with these designs... ;)

Otherwise, as mentioned, a little trial and error is best to find your best height.

Mark

PS: Don't forget to install the CHECK VALVE, OK?

Thanks mass.

I will try lowering the float this weekend and see if it helps.

All great answers but nobody addressed the floor drain backup. Let me take care of that right now.
What that floor drain needs is a Flood Guard,(see image) This will solve the floor drain issue. Check them out at. PlumbingSupply.com - Flood Guards For Floor Drains - check valves to prevent flooding Good luck, Tom

I agree with Tom. Buy pump with built-in switch. That will solve your problem. Zoeller pumps are the best. Back to you. Milo