Two Sump Pumps Won't Work ?
I had a basement waterproof company come in about 6 years ago and jackhammer a trench around the foundation and install perforated pipe which all hooks into 2 sump pits in different areas of the house. Well we just had a doozy of a storm and I went downstairs to look at the sump pits and I noticed in both pits the water was over the sump pumps. Last year was the last time we had a substantial storm where the pits filled up and the pumps were fine and took the water out. But today both pumps did not pump. It's strange that both pumps would both not work at the same time when they are in different pits at different locations around the house. The pumps are Stevens S5710 1/2 hp. I don't know anything about these pumps. My guess is that the float (wherever it is got gooked up with dirt that was in the pits for years. The pumps rarely get used, maybe once or twice a year, so I don't see over usage as a cause. Any ideas ? Thanks for your time. Oh .... electricity is fine .... it's not anything that simple. I also took one of the pumps out and put it in my pool and hooked it up to see if it would work and it was just dead. No noise no nothing. I don't know much about that pump but it looks like the on/off level control is that tube on the side of the pump. That could be the source of the problem. I can't tell from the picture on the website if it an electronic or manual type control. The website says it has a 7yr warranty. Are the pumps that old? Maybe Steven's could help you out. Originally Posted by pumpguy I don't know much about that pump but it looks like the on/off level control is that tube on the side of the pump. That could be the source of the problem. I can't tell from the picture on the website if it an electronic or manual type control. The website says it has a 7yr warranty. Are the pumps that old? Maybe Steven's could help you out. I called Stevens today and left a message but they haven't called back. The pumps are 6 years old so they are under warranty. But having 2 pumps go out at the same time seems odd. That tube on the side seems to have nothing in it. I took off the top of the pump and you still can't definitively see if there's anything in that tube. My guess is the switch in the pumps went. Somehow that tube on the side must send some type of pressure reading which activates the switch. That's just a totally uneducated guess on my part from reading up the last couple of days on sump pumps. Hopefully Stevens will get back to me. Maybe they have kits I can buy that can fix this problem. What annoys me is that these pumps probably get used once or twice a year. Very rarely do my sump pits fill with water. You would think an expensive pump like this would be more durable. Having the pumps run so little is not really a good thing. What if you only started your car twice a year.....maybe it would start, maybe not. Best to run them once and awhile. Is there any way to fill the sump pit w/o the water backing up into the perforated pipe around the foundation ? It would take a long time to fill that pit to check the pump. Maybe just disconnect the pump every time which is a pain, but I guess I have no choice. I spoke to Stevens and they feel the problem is the switch. They are sending me new covers that have the switch in them. I did try the pump again in the pool and it finally worked. Stevens seems to feel the the connect/ disconnect of the power caused the switch to kick in, but they thought the switch was worn. I told them when I put the pump in the water I took off the check valve and then it worked. When I put the pump in the water the first few times the check valve was still connected to the pump. They still feel it was a worn switch. My question ..... could a pump not work because of a check valve ? I would expect the motor to kick on and not pump water if the check valve was faulty. I never heard the motor kick on when I had the pump in the pool the first few times I tried it.. Also, when I took off the check valve and turned it upside down the flap opened up easily. There was no sticking at all. My guess is that the check valve is fine and what Stevens told me was accurate. You agree ? Everything is covered under warranty, so no additional cost to me which is great ! That's great that they are sending you the parts to fix your pumps. The pump should really turn on before it starts filling the drain tile pipes but the switch you have on those pumps probably can't be adjusted to turn at a lower level. Unless the check vakve was upside down or the flapper was broken and jamming the opening it should have worked. The switch always seems to be the weak link in any sump pump. The 6yrs you got out of them is a pretty good life. Originally Posted by pumpguy That's great that they are sending you the parts to fix your pumps. The pump should really turn on before it starts filling the drain tile pipes but the switch you have on those pumps probably can't be adjusted to turn at a lower level. Unless the check vakve was upside down or the flapper was broken and jamming the opening it should have worked. The switch always seems to be the weak link in any sump pump. The 6yrs you got out of them is a pretty good life. The pump turns on with 12 of water and shuts off with 3 of water according to the specs. The weep holes in the pit are 10 up, so no can do. I've learned a lot about pumps the last couple of days. Thanks for your help pumpguy !
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