Sri wrote:

Hi,
We have a sump pit and pump in our basement. Because of the heavy
rains recently, we are getting water into the sump pit from the drain
tiles. The water is still coming into the pit, the pit fills up every
15minutes or so. The problem is, after reaching a particular level,
the water level does not raise anymore even though there is water
coming into it thru the pipe from drail tiles. It just stops at a
particular level. The sump pump is connected to the power source thru
floater. When we disconnect the floater and connect the sump pump
directly to the power and drain out the water in the pit and again
connect it to the floater power, the next time water level raises and
reaches a level where the floater kicks off the sump pump. The second
time onwards, the water level remains same no matter how much water
comes from the pipe connected to drain tiles. Where is this water
going? Why does not it raise to a level where the floater kicks off
the sump pump? The pit liner is perforated. Is the water going thru
these holes into the ground? If so, at some point it water level
should raise. But even after an hour of observation, the water level
does not raise. Please help us understand whats happening.
Thanks.


Since most sump pumps are centrifugal pumps, there's an open path
between their input and output even when they are stopped.

So, I'll make a WAG that the pipe or hose connected to the output of
your sump pump may have its far end located lower than the top of the
sump pit and once the pump runs a while and fills up that line it may
continue to drain water from the sump pit through plain old syphon action.

Think that's a possibility? Do you know where the end of the drain line
is and can you see it to determine if water is running out of it even
when the pump is stopped?

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.