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    gsanche's Avatar
    gsanche Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Apr 6, 2014, 08:33 AM
    Sump pump is unplugged (flooding), OK to shower and flush until it's serviced?
    New home owner. Two inches of standing water is hanging out in my basement. Upon discovering this, the sump pump was unplugged because water was streaming out. Then the breaker box was checked, and one of the breakers flipped (don't know if that was the sump pump or not) Plugged the sump pump back in, and it appeared to be draining. Went to check an hour later and it was flooding again. Unplugged it again. Submitted a service request with warranty/insurance company. However, it's Sunday so I won't hear from them until tomorrow. I just need to know if I can still take a shower and flush toilets, even though the sump pump is unplugged. (I honestly have no experience with draining systems, so I apologize if this is a common sense answer) Thank you
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
    Senior Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #2

    Apr 6, 2014, 08:38 AM
    Hi Gsanche

    If the sump pump is being used to drain ground water and the sump pump pit is not covered then you are fine to use toilets and other plumbing because a sump pump is not involved in the house plumbing system.

    If, however, you have a SEWAGE EJECTOR system with two pipes coming out of a CLOSED pit (has cover over everything and is gas-tight) then you CANNOT use any plumbing fixtures that drain into the sewage ejector pit. Most likely there will be fixtures that cannot be used and others that drain to the plumbing system via gravity and those gravity draining fixtures can still be used.


    It sounds like you have a SUMP PUMP and that means you should be all set, but do keep an eye on that sump pump and make sure water doesn't flood your place!

    Mark
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