Sump pumps??

[happywalker]

We live up in Highland Park and get water in our basement every year at this time. We have lived in the same home for over 30 years. About 27 years ago we had a company pour a cement floor so the water would drain down the new drain they put in. We also had a French drain put in around our house as recommended. But after all of this time still has water when it rains heavy and steady…At the time I didn’t know enough to ask about a sump pump. Well I’m ready! Does anyone have any pointers or info regarding a sump pump? Who would I call a plumber or electrician? Help!!

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[Chemist]

You’d need an electrician to make sure you’ve got a circuit capable of supporting the sump pump. The motor inrush current can be quite a bit, making it difficult to share with other items.

We had O’Neil, a plumbing place, out to work on our basement water ingress. It was an indoor basement perimeter french-drain. Despite few changes at the house in the past 55 years, it appears that the water table rose enough that water ingress was happening pretty regularly with rain. We wondered if a lot of the efforts to disconnect downspouts from the sewer system have had this side-effect.

I’m not sure you can just dig a single pit for a sump pump. I think it’s a visible part of a whole draintile system.

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[happywalker]

YIKES!! sounds complicated.

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[mark47n]

Most plug-in type sump pumps will be just fine for the receptacles in homes. The inrush isn’t something that should present much of a problem. They have floats that should control the pump. If this is a regular problem, however, you should consider a more permanent pump and control system. three float systems are really your best bet. These provide a deadband so the pump doesn’t cycle on and off when there’s water flowing and a high level alarm in case the water is rising faster than the pump can handle OR isn’t working. These systems start at about $1500 for all of the equipment but don’t include installation. It really comes down to how important is a dry basement?

I prefer Zoeller.

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[happywalker]

Thanks mark47n…for putting it in perspective, it’s not a priority at the moment, we’ve lived with the part-time winter water for 31 years soo…HAPPY NEW YEAR

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[Author]

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