Sump Pump Kicking On

ERIK2173 · 05-03-2006, 01:09 PM

In the basement of my house both the laundry sink ang the basement floor drain are below the main drain, so they both drain into what I've always called the storm drain. I know there's a correct name for it but it escapes me right now, it's the hole in the corner of the basement and the sump pump, pumps the water into the main drain.

Also draining into the storm drain is a third pipe that I cannot figure out where it is coming from, alot of time there is water coming out out of this pipe which causes my sump pump to kick on 4 or 5 times a day. I thought maybe it was catching water around the foundation but it tends to happen even if it had not rained in days.
I watched my water meter while the pipe was draining and over the course of a few minutes it didn't move so I don't think it's because of a leak anywhere, unless it was before the water meter.
I'm a fairly new home owner, so I've never seen this before. Is this something that is pretty common in homes, it was built in the 50's.
The area the home is in is not near any bodies of water, but I'm not sure how close the basement is to the water table.
Sorry if some of my terms are not correct in the plumbing description, I'm a rookie when it comes to plumbing issues.

redline · 05-03-2006, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERIK2173

In the basement of my house both the laundry sink ang the basement floor drain are below the main drain, so they both drain into what I've always called the storm drain. Some refer to this as the sump it. I know there's a correct name for it but it escapes me right now, it's the hole in the corner of the basement and the sump pump, pumps the water into the main drain.

Also draining into the storm drain is a third pipe that I cannot figure out where it is coming from, alot of time there is water coming out out of this pipe which causes my sump pump to kick on 4 or 5 times a day. I thought maybe it was catching water around the foundation but it tends to happen even if it had not rained in days.
The area the home is in is not near any bodies of water, but I'm not sure how close the basement is to the water table. Does your house sit in a low area, valley or next to a mountain/hill?

What direction does the pipe come from?

Is the direction of the pipe from the outside of the house or is it coming from the basement area?

ERIK2173 · 05-04-2006, 12:58 PM

The pipe goes back under the house not away from it, but there are no drains in the area, the storm drain or sump it as you called it is along the back wall of the house, the pipe appears to go across the house toward the front.
My house is in a fairly flat area, no mountains or valleys. I'm in the Chicagoland area, we're lucky we get a hill let alone a mountain. I have seen no evidence of any water in the basement, but I've only been in the house 6 months.

redline · 05-04-2006, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERIK2173

.. the storm drain or sump it as you called it is along the back wall of the house, the pipe appears to go across the house toward the front.

I meant to type sump pit instead of sump it.

Do you know if your neighbors have another pipe like yours in their sump pit?

I am just wondering if there is a catch basin somewhere in the yard that collects water and then dumps it into your sump pit.

ERIK2173 · 05-05-2006, 08:43 AM

I guess sump pit would make a lot more sense, "sump it" just sounds like something you would see on a late night infommercial.
Not sure about the other houses, I'll have to ask around. I don't see any catch basins, but it is a possibility, I have alot of yard work to do, maybe I'll locate it then. It doesn't seem to be bothering anything, I was just raised in a house that the basement flooded during heavy rains, and if the sump pumped kicked on ii meant trouble. It's a little hard for me to get used to the sump pump kicking on a few times a day.
Thanks for th help.