Sump Pump Paranoia?

**Sump Pump Paranoia** · 10-18-2009, 06:33 PM

I just moved into a house that is 10 years old in the Midwest. There is a constant trickle of water that flows in the sump pit at all times. I have never lived in the house where this occurs.

Typically, the sump pump runs about once every 20 minutes for about 20 seconds. When it is really dry (i.e. during the summer) it may not run for up to an hour. HOWEVER, during times of rain, the sump pump could go off every 5 to 8 minutes....we just had a 2" rain and the sump pump has been going off every 6 to 7 minutes for the past 24 hours.

I have spoken with several local inspectors and plumbers and all say that water running into the sump pit is "normal" especially for my area of town as there seems to be a higher water table (at least that is what they say).

All my gutter drains are well away from the house...however there is some negative grading on one side of the house. My house also seems to sit a little lower as compared to the houses on either side of me.

My sump pit has 2 main sump pumps that are on an "alternator" that alternates their use. There is also a battery back-up...for a total of 3 pumps. The pit itself seems fairly large already.

I have looked at other message boards of people trying to figure out a similar issue.....seems like there is not really a solution. I assume that folks across the country live with sump pumps that run in their homes about every 20 minutes...it is just new to me as I have never lived in a house that required the sump pump to run in periods of dry weather or wet weather.....I am guess my situation is a water table issue....

....as long as this situation is "typical" for areas with water table issues, then I am OK with it...I just want to know if it is indeed "typical" or "normal" for a constant trickle of water into the sump...and more if it rains....

I am paranoid of finding a flooded basement some day.

Am I too paranoid, or does everything seem normal?

I guess I am destined to hear the sump pump run every 20 minutes for the rest of my life.....thoughts?

**upper** · 10-18-2009, 07:15 PM

You could also move before you go postal

.Upper

**Gary Slusser** · 10-18-2009, 07:25 PM

ummmm your house is too low and needs to be raised to at least 12" higher than the highest water table level over the last 100 years.

Seriously, it's the water table and trust me, you will get used to the pump running and that's what you want, if it doesn't... PANIC, quickly.

**Thatguy** · 10-19-2009, 02:10 PM

With everything off, check that your water meter doesn't move.

If one pump is 95% reliable, two will be 99.8% reliable, 3, 99.99%.

Re: water table and flooding, how high would the water go with no pump?

**Ian Gills** · 10-19-2009, 02:24 PM

Also check where your pumps discharge. If it's too close to the house they could be cycling.

I discharge mine to the street although technically I am not allowed to do this. Some of my neighbors discharge on their property very near the street.

**Peter Griffin** · 10-19-2009, 02:38 PM

You can always wire an alarm to it also.

**bubb1957** · 10-20-2009, 04:41 AM

Sounds like the previous owner had all the bases covered. With 2 good alternating pumps and a backup your flooding threat is minimized. Just make sure the battery back up is big enough to handle the flow if the main pumps go out in a power outage.