On Apr 24, 3:13*pm, "RBM" wrote:
"Mikepier" wrote in message

...

All I can tell you is if I pour water in the pipe to the top, it
eventually drains down to its standard level of 2 ft below the
basement floor, so I don't think I have a checkvalve in the vertical
pipe, or if I do, its defective.

I think you do have one, because the old pump would have used one, but from
sitting idle, it's probably frozen closed, with a slight leak

I suspect he does also and either it or the screen around it (if it
has one) is partly clogged. If he has a self-primng pump, it would
work on his system without a footvalve. Sounds like the maximum draw
distance would only be about 20', well within self-priming range.

Harry K