Zoeller Sewage Pump switch doesn't always work

[cej22]

I'm having a hard time finding an answer by searching.

I have a house that's about three years old and over the last few months the sewage pump has failed to turn on three times, causing minor flooding in the unfinished basement. When it fails, I can lightly kick the discharge pipe and the pump starts immediately. It's a green Zoeller pump, but I can't determine the model number. If I had to guess based on the shape of the top and the price point of the home, I would say it's probably an N57. It has a separate float switch, but I don't have the slightest idea how to determine what brand it is.

Is it a fairly safe assumption that this is a problem with the switch? What would cause the switch to fail very occasionally? If so, is the answer to change it with the Rhombus VerticalMaster switch? Are these commonly found? I called the big plumbing supply place I've used before and they are not a distributor.

I think I'll also install an alarm. Any recommendations?

Any guidance here would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[cwhyu2]

Is this pump ejecting sewage from bath or is it for just ground water?
Ii maybe that the float switch arm needs to be cleaned.

[cej22]

It is for sewage and the float switch is tethered.

[cwhyu2]

Is this the pump? It`s an M57

[cej22]

I think it's the "N" version, which doesn't have the attached float.

[master plumber mark]

buy yourself a verticle master switch and just stand on your head in that pit and change out the bad switch...

all you got to do it take a pair of wire cutters and cut away the switch... then attach the new switch to the pvc pipe and set it to the right height...

remember ..... dont fall in...

and dont cut the pump wire



http://www.pumpshop.us/images/verticalm.jpg (http://www.pumpshop.us/verticalmaster-pump-switch.html)

[cwhyu2]

The only N57 is the oil smart system.Can you send a picture?

[cej22]

This is the one I'm referring to.
http://www.*******s.com/Zoeller-N57-Mighty-Mate-Solid-Cast-Iron-Non-auto-Requires-Float-Switch-Sump-Pump-115-Volt-1-3-HP?sc=2&category=48898

A photo would not be very telling. The thing is mostly covered in sewage.

[cwhyu2]

It is the basicly the same as the one I showed earlier.
Get some rubber gloves and toggle the arm coming out of the side at the
top several times to see if there is an obstruction.Un plug it first and
toggle the switch the plug it back in and toggle while plugged in.
Then run water to see how it operates.

[cej22]

Thanks for the advice. I replaced the switch with a Rhombus VerticalMaster and installed their indoor alarm, as well. Everything seems to be working fine.

The bad float switch was a Zoeller that was only 4 years old and the pump gets very little use. Not very impressive.

Mark, I managed to not cut the pump wire and not fall in. ;)