[mnelectrician]

Hello,

My home is 10 years old and my sewer grinder pump located in the basement won't turn off. The only thing to drain into the basket for 9 years was the AC condensate and the water softner discharge. This year I finally hooked up a sink and toilet in the basement.

All has been fine until about a week ago when we heard the pump running constantly. I assumed a sticky float and peeked in through the small hole where the cord runs through, there I saw baby wipes floating on top. I pulled out about 6 or so and thought I had them all until 3 days later the same problem. I suspect the wipes were not my problem, however should not have been in there. I wonder if I should be looking for another problem.

Any helpful advice would be great.

Joel

[ballengerb1]

Are you talking about a sump pump, they aren't grinders but do handle what you have. If it's a sump pump the float switch is sticking and can be cleared or repaired. Open th lid and observe the float, it should move up and down freely, is anything blocking it?

[speedball1]

for 9 years was the AC condensate and the water softner discharge. This year I finally hooked up a sink and toilet in the basement.

Bob caught problem right off. Sounds like you're forcing a sump pump, that's designed to pump only liquids to attempt to handle solids, grease and hair. Whet's happened is the intake got clogged with baby wipes or the toilet paper and the waste kept building up tripping the float switch so the pump ran constantly.
Another thing. If what you have is a sump pump that's open at the top and you've connected a toilet to it vyou have just built yourself a open cesspool in your basement. This is a health hazard to your entire fanily. Sump pumps were never meant to receive anything but clear liquid from ground water intrusion or what you had discharging into it before.
Bottom line! Either install a grinder pit and pump or disconnect the toilet and sink. Good luck, Tom

[mnelectrician]

Thank you for the replies. I should have been more specific. This pump is designed to be the ejector for the lower level plumbing. It is not just a basic sump basket. I am going to check out the probability of a clog in the float. I am trying to access and make the repair from the small hole on top rather than open the whole sealed cover. Wish me luck.

[ballengerb1]

Open the cover, you will not be getting anywhere trying to work through the little hole.

[speedball1]

Baby wipes! Are they biodegradable like toilet paper or are they more dense and won't break down? Does it say on the box that they can be flushed? Bob's correct, you're going to hafta open up the top and clear the float or intake that may be clogged. Good luck, Tom

[mnelectrician]

You guys hit it right on. No luck trying to work through the little hole so I plugged my nose and went in all the way. The basket was full to the brim and the pump was jammed with baby wipes. Cleaned it all out and we are good as new. Thank you much. Joel

[speedball1]

Thanks for the update. We always like to know if our solutions worked. Good luck, Tom