FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS CONCERNING
Sump Pumps
Q1. What size sump pit should be used?
A1. The size of a sump pit will be dependent on what kind of sump pump you have as well as the kind of oat switch it
contains. If you have a pedestal sump pump, you will need a sump pit that is 11” in diameter and a maximum of 24” deep,
for submersible sump pumps there is not a maximum depth but with a wide angle switch the minimum diameter pit you
can have is 18” and a submersible sump pump with a vertical switch can have a pit anywhere from 11” to 18” in diameter.
Q2. What is a weep hole and where should I drill it?
A2. A weep hole is also considered a relief hole, this hole will prevent the pump from going into “air-lock”, air-lock is when
the pump is running but not delivering water. We suggested that the weep hole be a 3/16” hole in the discharge pipe
below your oor line between the pump discharge and check valve.
Q3. Does a check valve need to be installed?
A3. Yes, a check valve is installed in the sump pumps discharge pipe. When the pump runs, the water is pumped through
the valve and when the pump shuts o, the water in the discharge pipe will want to drain back down into the sump pit.
The check valve will keep this from happening and also prevents the pump from having to pump water that has already
been pumped out.
Q4. Why is the pump tripping the breaker?
A4. The sump pump could be tripping the breaker due to these few reasons: the impeller or volute is clogged, if this is the
case, please remove pump and clean thoroughly or the fuse size or circuit breaker is too small, must be at least 15 amps.
Q5. Can an extension cord be used to plug the pump in?
A5. We do not recommend that sump pumps are run on an extension cord; please plug the pump directly into a dedicated
115V outlet. This will ensure that the pump is receiving the correct amount of voltage to operate. If an extension cord is
utilized it will void your warranty.
Q6. Can the discharge pipe be reduced from the outlet size of the pump?
A6. The discharge pipe to a sump pump should never be reduced, always use the same size or larger than the size of the
pump discharge.
Q7. Can the discharge pipe be larger than the outlet size of the pump?
A7. The discharge pipe may be a few sizes larger than the outlet of the pump but if it is too large the ow rate could be-
come too slow and cause solids to settle out in the pipe. This could cause sludge to builds up and possibly cause clogs in
the pipe.
Q8. Should a backup pump be installed with a sump pump?
A8. A backup pump is not a necessity when installing a sump pump but it is a good idea to have. The backup pump is
designed to run when your main pump cannot keep up with the inow or the main pump has failed.
Q9. How to determine what size horsepower should be used?
A9. The higher the horsepower on the pump the faster it will move the water out of the pit and the more electricity it will
use. If you have a sump pit that lls rapidly and you have a water problem, you will want a higher horsepower pump. If at
all possible, increase the size of your sump pit so that your pump does not have to run as often.
Q10. Every time the sump pump turns o, there is a loud noise, what is causing this?
A10. The noise that you hear is actually coming from the check valve, at the end of the cycle the check valve is closing and
the water is coming into contact with it.