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Subject Author Date
sump pump question AE Todd 07-18-2008
---> Re: sump pump question Steve Barker DL...07-19-2008
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Posted by AE Todd on July 18, 2008, 11:38 pm


I tried out my new Zoeller non-automatic .3 hp sump pump, and the
instructions say to drill a 3/16 hole on the discharge pipe about
equal to the top of the machine. I did this, and not only does it
reduce the discharge pressure, but it makes an irritating spraying
sound when the water level drops below that point and the water sprays
against the side of the pit. Instructions say that this hole is
required to deal with air buildup when used in conjunction with a one-
way valve. Does anyone have an opinion on if the hole is really
needed?

On another note, I didn't know that the the pump I was replacing was .
5 hp, and it appears that the lower hp of my new pump results in a
dramatic drop in pressure. Interestingly, the old pump is actually an
automatic unit with a float switch, where they just taped up the
switch in an always-on position so that the on/off function is left to
the separate switch unit that the pump is plugged into. I didn't
discover this until I pulled out the old pump and found the float
switch taped to the discharge pipe.

Posted by Steve Barker DLT on July 19, 2008, 12:15 am


the hole is not needed.

s


>I tried out my new Zoeller non-automatic .3 hp sump pump, and the
> instructions say to drill a 3/16 hole on the discharge pipe about
> equal to the top of the machine. I did this, and not only does it
> reduce the discharge pressure, but it makes an irritating spraying
> sound when the water level drops below that point and the water sprays
> against the side of the pit. Instructions say that this hole is
> required to deal with air buildup when used in conjunction with a one-
> way valve. Does anyone have an opinion on if the hole is really
> needed?
>
> On another note, I didn't know that the the pump I was replacing was .
> 5 hp, and it appears that the lower hp of my new pump results in a
> dramatic drop in pressure. Interestingly, the old pump is actually an
> automatic unit with a float switch, where they just taped up the
> switch in an always-on position so that the on/off function is left to
> the separate switch unit that the pump is plugged into. I didn't
> discover this until I pulled out the old pump and found the float
> switch taped to the discharge pipe.



Posted by David Nebenzahl on July 19, 2008, 12:52 am


On 7/18/2008 9:15 PM Steve Barker DLT spake thus:

>
>>I tried out my new Zoeller non-automatic .3 hp sump pump, and the
>> instructions say to drill a 3/16 hole on the discharge pipe about
>> equal to the top of the machine. I did this, and not only does it
>> reduce the discharge pressure, but it makes an irritating spraying
>> sound when the water level drops below that point and the water sprays
>> against the side of the pit. Instructions say that this hole is
>> required to deal with air buildup when used in conjunction with a one-
>> way valve. Does anyone have an opinion on if the hole is really
>> needed?
>
> the hole is not needed.

What he said. I've installed two of those same pumps, and the people at
the plumbing supply store I bought them at said to ignore those
instructions. They work just fine without any extra holes.

Go ahead and plug the hole (find a screw and mash it in, or drill & tap
if you're a little more on the anal side; stainless screw for
perfectionists).


--
"Wikipedia ... it reminds me ... of dogs barking idiotically through
endless nights. It is so bad that a sort of grandeur creeps into it.
It drags itself out of the dark abyss of pish, and crawls insanely up
the topmost pinnacle of posh. It is rumble and bumble. It is flap and
doodle. It is balder and dash."

- With apologies to H. L. Mencken

Posted by on July 19, 2008, 2:17 am


> On 7/18/2008 9:15 PM Steve Barker DLT spake thus:
>
.
>
> >>I tried out my new Zoeller non-automatic .3 hp sump pump, and the
> >> instructions say to drill a 3/16 hole on the discharge pipe about
> >> equal to the top of the machine. =A0I did this, and not only does it
> >> reduce the discharge pressure, but it makes an irritating spraying
> >> sound when the water level drops below that point and the water sprays
> >> against the side of the pit. =A0Instructions say that this hole is
> >> required to deal with air buildup when used in conjunction with a one-
> >> way valve. =A0Does anyone have an opinion on if the hole is really
> >> needed?
>
> =A0>
> =A0> the hole is not needed.
>
> What he said. I've installed two of those same pumps, and the people at
> the plumbing supply store I bought them at said to ignore those
> instructions. They work just fine without any extra holes.
>
> Go ahead and plug the hole (find a screw and mash it in, or drill & tap
> if you're a little more on the anal side; stainless screw for
> perfectionists).
>

I wouldn't be so quick to say that the hole is not needed with all
pumps under all circumstances. The small hole is there to prevent
air lock. With a check valve, if the sump goes dry, the section of
pipe between the pump and the check valve will fill with air.
Depending on the pump, this air could prevent the pump from picking up
enough water to get going. In essence the pump could remain air
locked and not pump while the basement floods. IF it happens depends
on the pump design, how deep in the water the pump sits, etc.

I;ve had pumps that did not have the air escape hole and worked
fine. But I'd read the pump directions and/or consult the
manufacturer and play it safe.





> --
> "Wikipedia ... it reminds me ... of dogs barking idiotically through
> endless nights. It is so bad that a sort of grandeur creeps into it.
> It drags itself out of the dark abyss of pish, and crawls insanely up
> the topmost pinnacle of posh. It is rumble and bumble. It is flap and
> doodle. It is balder and dash."
>
> - With apologies to H. L. Mencken


Posted by Harry K on July 19, 2008, 3:25 pm


On Jul 18, 11:17=A0pm, trad...@optonline.net wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On 7/18/2008 9:15 PM Steve Barker DLT spake thus:
>
...
>
> > >>I tried out my new Zoeller non-automatic .3 hp sump pump, and the
> > >> instructions say to drill a 3/16 hole on the discharge pipe about
> > >> equal to the top of the machine. =A0I did this, and not only does it
> > >> reduce the discharge pressure, but it makes an irritating spraying
> > >> sound when the water level drops below that point and the water spra=
ys
> > >> against the side of the pit. =A0Instructions say that this hole is
> > >> required to deal with air buildup when used in conjunction with a on=
e-
> > >> way valve. =A0Does anyone have an opinion on if the hole is really
> > >> needed?
>
> > =A0>
> > =A0> the hole is not needed.
>
> > What he said. I've installed two of those same pumps, and the people at
> > the plumbing supply store I bought them at said to ignore those
> > instructions. They work just fine without any extra holes.
>
> > Go ahead and plug the hole (find a screw and mash it in, or drill & tap
> > if you're a little more on the anal side; stainless screw for
> > perfectionists).
>
> I wouldn't be so quick to say that the hole is not needed with all
> pumps under all circumstances. =A0 The small hole is there to prevent
> air lock. =A0 With a check valve, if the sump goes dry, the section of
> pipe between the pump and the check valve will fill with air.
> Depending on the pump, this air could prevent the pump from picking up
> enough water to get going. =A0 In essence the pump could remain air
> locked and not pump while the basement floods. =A0 IF it happens depends
> on the pump design, how deep in the water the pump sits, etc.
>
> I;ve had pumps that did not have the air escape hole and worked
> fine. =A0 But I'd read the pump directions and/or consult the
> manufacturer and play it safe.
>
>
>

Assuming that there is a check valve above the pump that does not leak
back _and_ that the pump totally empties the pump housing before
shutting off, yes, it could air lock even with the pit full of water.
There would be no way for water to push the air out of the pump
chamber.

Harry K

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