[The Jeep Driver]

I have a tri-level home, and a secondary sump pit in the garage, under the staircase that takes you from the lowest level of the house out to the garage. The pit is seldom ever used, only on heavy rain. Stagnant enough that mosquitoes are into it, and it is starting to smell. Anything I can put in the pit to eliminate both? I am not going to use chlorine, as I've read that it is bad on the pump.

 

[The Jeep Driver]

I changed my search parameters and found"Mosquito Dunk" so there's one problem solved....

 

[SeniorSitizen]

You must have read that on the web so it must be true.

I bleach my water well and neither my pump or myself have died.

 

[The Jeep Driver]

You must have read that on the web so it must be true.

I bleach my water well and neither my pump or myself have died.

I did read it online... from other home improvement sites... "chlorine bleach in concentrations high enough to control mildew will be damaging to pump O-rings and seals over time" and "Bleach use over the long term may cause deterioration of plastic and rubber pump parts as well as corrosion of metal parts." What concentration of bleach are you using? If I can trust your answer, as it is also on the web...

EDIT: Some of the answers on the aforementioned sites also advised to use bleach. I was simply avoiding chlorine as I'm not wanting to damage my pump.

 

[SeniorSitizen]

All the information I have read is that 3 drops of bleach / liter will purify drinking water.

Consider emptying the pit, refilling with fresh water treated with a 1/4 cup of bleach then add a couple cups of mineral oil. Mosquitoes won't like the oil on top.

 

[oh'mike]

ordinary dish detergent will drown the mosquito larva.

I bleach one of my pits(when it gets to smelling bad)--then flush it out with clear water---then a shot of dish soap.

 

[GottaFixIt]

Why not just cover the pit?

It's a good practice and now part of IRC code.

 

[Ghostmaker]

I bleach my outside fountain constantly that little pump is 5 years old and runs 24 /7 all year.

 

[SHEPLMBR]

yeah... most pits have lids that seal it..unless it's a pedestal pump

 

[The Jeep Driver]

...then add a couple cups of mineral oil. Mosquitoes won't like the oil on top.

I wonder if the mineral oil would also help with the odor issue, in the same fashion that

does. (I thought it was a spoof the first time I heard of it.)

Why not just cover the pit?

It's a good practice and now part of IRC code.

yeah... most pits have lids that seal it..unless it's a pedestal pump

The pit has to be open to collect flood water.

Thanks for all the responses!