Sump Pump running every 30 seconds

[mpzmba]

I recently installed a Super Sump system from your Company. Upon installation the system ran for about 4 or 5 days non-stop. For about 1 month it pretty much never ran. Now it has been running non-stop for 3 weeks!! The water table is pretty high--but this is significant. I now have a river running down my driveway (the grass discharge area is completely saturated). I contacted your Production Support--but they gave me an appointment 3 weeks later. It doesn't look like all the water is expelled (water remains in discharge pipe). What else can I do?? Running the discharge under the driveway will cost alot of money (more than the entire system cost).

[admin]

mpzmba,

Although it's extremely uncommon for a pump to run as much as yours has been, we have seen it happen in particularly wet times. The fact that the pump did stop running for about a month demonstrates that it has been very wet in the last three weeks, but when it gets drier the pump will stip.

When the system design specialist designs the system, it is based on what the homeowner is trying to accomplish -- typically to create a dry basement by redirecting your water, which it sounds like has been done for you.

So the issue is where to discharge your water.

I can think of two things quickly: 1. to change the location of the discharge line if possible (and maybe in your case, extending it further under the driveway might be the solution if there is no where else for it to go). 2. If it's possible, to tap into a catch basin if one's available and your town allows for this (and for this you would need a bonded company -- which the Basement Systems dealer who installed your system will probably not be).

I wish there was an optimal solution, and there might be if the discharge line can be easily re-located to a better area, but you need to direct your water somewhere, so a less than optimal solution may be the only answer (such as going under the driveway). When the Production/Service person arrives, discuss these options and see which is best for you.

-Richard

[mpzmba]

The Repair Technician came out and was shocked by the amount of water flowing down the driveway, and the frequency of the pump operation (every 20 secs for 1 month straight!!!). As I was worried about the amount of water being pumped--I had a battery backup installed (should there be a power outage). The technician tried to adjust the initial pump height--but could not do so with the 2nd pump (battery backup). He subsequently told me to leave the "electric powered pump" unplugged. Since the battery back up pump is set higher--my "non-stop" river has stopped. Problem is that as soon as I plug the electric pump back in--it runs non-stop. The battery backup is now my PRIMARY pump.

How do I fix this situation?? The battery back-up should be just that a BACKUP. I paid alot of $$ for the initial pump installation--just to be told leave it unplugged.