- Your pump needs to move water at a greater rate than it flows into the pit. To size your pump you must first measure how many gallons per minute of water enter the pit during the heaviest rain or spring thaw. The next important measurement is how high vertically the pump must move the water in feet plus the friction from the pipe elbows and their lengths. This number is called the static head. With the amount of water per minute and the static head, you can choose the correctly sized pump.
- A pit that is too small will fill up and empty quickly, causing the pump to turn on and off frequently. This cycle wears the motor on the pump and can lead to premature failure. The most common size of pit is 18 inches in diameter, which is designed to handle fewer than 30 gallons per minute of water. If your drainage tile produces more than this, you should upgrade to a 24-inch pit, which will approximately double your water capacity.
- Prior to the spring thaw, check that the float's movement is not restricted. Pour water into the pit so the pump activates and removes the water. Go outside to ensure water exits through the discharge pipe. Watch the direction it flows once it reaches the ground; water needs to move consistently away from the foundation and home.
- If your home is built on a high water table or in an area that gets significant amounts of rain with poor drainage, you may want to consider a backup battery system and audible alarm in case of pump failure. This keeps the pump running during power outages and quickly alerts you if the system has stopped working. Another backup system is a second pump installed in the pit with the float switch set to a higher point. If the first pump becomes overwhelmed, the second pump kicks in to manage the additional water.
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