[Christopher C]

I noticed that there is what looks like a drum under ground level in the basement with pvc pipes running down into it from the basement bathroom. I also noticed it makes a pump sound once in a blue moon, for a short duration. The electrical cord that comes out of the top of this drum looking container says sump pump. I noticed yesterday the pump sound going on...and never shutting off. Running continuously.....so I unplugged it for fear it would burn out. What is going on?? How can this be corrected? My home is not on sewer but septic system, if that has any meaning. Someone told me it could be a bad relay switch or that the plunger is not working correctly.....PLEASE OFFER THIS NON-TECHNICAL PERSON ADVICE OF WHAT I NEED TO DO? No one uses the downstairs bathroom, but very rarely, if someone is staying over from out of town and stays in the basement bedroom. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP......
CHRISTOPHER C

 

[kenmac]

Check to be sure that you don't have a leaking toilet valve ,over flow, flapper etc, that would be causing pump to come on

 

[Grampa Bud]

If the pump is running continuosly check the pump switch. Is there a float that rides up and down the side of the pump?? Is there what appears to be a tethered ball on the end of a cord floating in the water?? Is there what appears to be a black coffee cup upside down at the bottom of the pump with a cord coming out of it?? On your pump cord(s) do you have two plugs riding "piggy Back"??? I ask all this because if the pump runs nonstop and you have piggyback cords your switch is bad, but can be replaced for about $40.00 instead of upwards of $175.00(parts only) The single cord models, if the cord isn't tangled around the float switch, must be completely changed out.

 

[Christopher C]

I checked the toilet, flapper and all other parts.....no leaks from toilet.

 

[Christopher C]

Interesting enough, the power cord IS comprised of two cords riding "piggy back". Only one is labeled sump pump. The other cord has no label on it. The pump does run NOW non-stop, so I unplugged it for fear it would burn out! I'm not sure how you get into this metal drum to reach the pump that has 2 pvc pipes going into it from above. Does all the piping have to be disconnected before lid comes off, etc. I have a friend who is an electrician, who says he can change the switch, if I know how to get into this thing. Any suggestions?

 

[al's sewer]

Interesting enough, the power cord IS comprised of two cords riding "piggy back". Only one is labeled sump pump. The other cord has no label on it. The pump does run NOW non-stop, so I unplugged it for fear it would burn out! I'm not sure how you get into this metal drum to reach the pump that has 2 pvc pipes going into it from above. Does all the piping have to be disconnected before lid comes off, etc. I have a friend who is an electrician, who says he can change the switch, if I know how to get into this thing. Any suggestions?

show us a picture so we know exactly what you have.

 

[Christopher C]

Good News!

I was going to take a picture to submit, but I investigated the situation further. Upon flushing the toilet numerous times and lifting the electrical connections, I could see the water was filling up but not emptying.
I loosened the pvc couplers and was able to move the sump pump alittle.
This seemed to free whatever was impeding the pump, because I could then hear the water exit. Once this was done, no more sounds of pump running continously. I then ran the basement bathroom toilet and tub to refill this tank again, and this time the pump went on and then off as has
in the past. So all good news!

 

[Grampa Bud]

Good Work!! What you did was to free the float switch (tethered ball floating in the water). Many times when this type of pump & switch is put in a pit, the float clearance from pump to pit wall is overlooked and on operation the float gets caught. It can be trapped "OFF" (Major Flooding) or trapped "ON" (Pump burns out and then Major Flooding).