New Sump Pump Advice

[Reach4]

Lots of things aren't made the way they used to be made. Everyone makes great points and since we've had a drought here, I've been digesting information. It's like when I'm advising my friends with smart home tech. Most of the major brands (and upstarts which is kind of funny to say relative to a new segment like smart home tech) will do most of what we want. The question is what ecosystem do you want and how do you want to accomplish it.

I've got a Zoeller M63 and check valve sitting on my kitchen counter. I keep going back and forth about getting a Basement Watchdog unit with a battery backup. Don't want to be short-sighted (knock on wood) but we very rarely lose power.

Can you add a backup battery at a later date? Or is it one system? Hard to tell. Rain is finally coming so I've got to get this done.

Thanks again for everyone's advice.

Many of their systems are supplements to the main sump pump, and not combo systems.

Basement Watchdog Backup Pumps | Basement Watchdog

Basement Watchdog battery backup sump pump systems will protect your basement from power outage, primary pump failure, primary float failure, will assist the primary when extra capacity is needed, and have unique monitoring systems that sound an alarm when maintenance is needed, or a problem arises.

www.basementwatchdog.com

I don't have a battery backup myself, but I do have a generator that I have never run.

There are also city-water-powered pumps. Venturi type pumps, I think. That could be expensive to run. If you have your own well, that would not be worth considering, of course.

 

[Mark Ezrin]

I want to sincerely thank everyone for all their help. So far, we still have no rain where I live in Maryland. Yesterday's storm seemed to skirt us. Zoeller M63 is installed. I did buy a new threaded male adapter and a 2' PVC tube. I did go with a new check valve cause I just figured after 22 years, it was a small investment. I will stick with having my smart water alarms around the pit. Does anyone have any suggested smart add-ons to recommend for monitoring the pump itself? I'm not thrilled with sticking in a smart plug. I do have an inexpensive camera that points to that area. You become a little paranoid when you've had various water leaks.

Does one of these make sense under my exterior drain?

2 in. Waterless Trap Seal GD2 - The Home Depot

Used in the outlet connections of floor drain bodies, or the inside of floor drain strainers to seal the opening to prevent odors, sewer gases, and insects from entering up through the floor drain grate.

www.homedepot.com

Here are pictures of the new vs. old. Only thing left to do is glue the PVC into the male adapter. I wanted to wait to make sure I've got the pump lined up in the right spot as yesterday, the float tube was hitting one of the pit drains and thus stayed on. I moved it and now it seems ok. Which I guess also plays to @Gagecalman point about the switches vs. the item they recommended.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Reach4]

That trap seal does not do anything good for you, IMO.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Charlot...le-Adapter-S-x-MPT-PVC-08109-1600HA/305254362 is stronger, but costs a lot more than a schedule 40 adapter. Schedule80 fittings glue onto schedule 40 pipe, because schedule 80 and schedule 40 both have the same pipe OD.

I would probably avoid stressing the joint too much, and use the much-cheaper schedule 40 adapter.

 

[Mark Ezrin]

I just want to belatedly thank everyone for their help. I installed the Zoeller M63, and replaced the original PVC pipe, PVC fitting and the check valve. It is glued and the sump pump has been operational. I'm still keeping an eye on the drain from the back steps. Water is getting through but I feel like I've still got some type of blockage. I'm going to try and run the snake through from both sides. I've got a 25' snake and hopefully that does it. If not, I'll call in the professionals. And I've increased the number of smart water alarms around my house.

Do I need to mark this thread as closed or resolved or just leave it alone?

Thanks again for all the patience and advice.

 

[Reach4]

Leave it.

Can you blow thru with a leaf blower? How clogged is that path? If it is strongly clogged, I would consider a Brasscraft drain bladder or equiv.

This is not to say that a snake will not do the job, but a hand snake is often very small diameter. It may poke thru some material without removing the clog.

 

[Mark Ezrin]

Leave it.

Can you blow thru with a leaf blower? How clogged is that path? If it is strongly clogged, I would consider a Brasscraft drain bladder or equiv.

This is not to say that a snake will not do the job, but a hand snake is often very small diameter. It may poke thru some material without removing the clog.

I will leave it.

I'm going to try with my shop vac (it turns into an electric blower) from the basin 1st and then from the outside steps side. I do have a gas leaf blower but the shop vac attachments to get it into the basin side don't fit, but I can do it from the outside steps. I am/was a little gun-shy about using either blower in that I was afraid I could somehow make things worse. Yes, I agree on the size of the snake. The bladder is a good idea.

Am I stupid for trying my pressure washer from the outside/steps side of the drain? it is a greenworks electric 2000 PSI pressure washer.

 

[WorthFlorida]

The drain pipe from the steps is probably the way leaves get into the pit. If the pipe is solid, not perforated, blower or shop vac snake may work.