Replies

1. 
   rjw | Jul 31, 2003 01:01pm | #1

   Are you running gray water into it, or just drainage tile water?  Technically, you're not supposed to run gray water into them, but it's pretty common in my area. DO NOT drain a toilet into them!

   The most typical problem I see with them is that the trip and shut off levels are too high, so that the footing drain tile is never emptied and you're letting a lot of water saturate the soil around the footings.

   _______________________

   10 .... I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.

   11 For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have--Jesus Christ.

   1 Corinthians 3:10-11

1. 
   BillHartmann | Jul 31, 2003 08:25pm | #2

   And you shouldn't run a sump pump with just drainage water into the septic anyway.

   And with the daylight basement, why the pump at all? Just run the drainlines to daylight.

1. 
   milanuk | Aug 01, 2003 04:58am | #3

   Well... this is certainly interesting information.

   FWIW, the plumbing and associated floor sump was installed approx. 16 yrs ago when the big addition to the house was built. The daylight basement utility room was also plumbed for a 3rd bathroom, complete w/ toilet flange, vent piping, etc. I'm not 100% sure, as I'd have to go trace it out again, but I believe some part of the drain piping from the master bathroom (like possibly the sink, at least) directly overhead comes down to this also. For whatever reason, the people who put it in, nor the people who we bought the place from, ever finished the utility room or actually put in the bathroom. I'm in the process of excavating a portion of the floor to rearrange the vents a bit, as someone put them in a decidedly inconvenient location (like out in the middle ofthe floor, vs. running them over to the wall and up.) so we can actually finish the third bathroom.

   For sixteen years, that floor sump has been pumping washing machine waste water out to the septic, so I don't think thats exactly hurting anything. As far as the 'don't run a toilet to it', well, I'm not saying I disagree (If I knew for sure, I wouldn't have asked here), but it sure seems that was the way the whole setup was designed. Granted, there are more than a few things around this place that make me wonder about the individuals that put them in, but usually it was more of a 'cheap way out' think rather than completely and fundamentally flawed.

   Sounds like maybe I should find a plumber that knows the ins and outs of whats permissible around here and run it by him. Any other ideas?

   Thanks,

   Monte

1. 
   BillHartmann | Aug 01, 2003 05:17am | #4

   My comment about not pumping the water to the septic was about DRAIN water from drain tiles put along the footing.

   That is was a sump pump is commonly used for.

   Gray water from a washing machine you will get a lot of debate about whether that should going to septic or not. I think that some areas require it and other forbit it.

   But do you have a sump pump or a sewer ejector pump also called a grinder pump.

   Those will have closed lid with a line to connect them to the waste water vent system. They are designed for all kinds of sewage waste.

1. 
   milanuk | Aug 01, 2003 05:42am | #5

   Actually... it does have a sealed lid. I've never opened it up, and after talking to the people we bought it from (they built a new house just up the hill), they don't think they ever did either. It's a kind of weird setup, in that the hi level alarm and the pump set point are at the same level. So the alarm is silenced or else it would sound off every time the level go to where the pump cuts in. So I will probably have to open this up at some point to get *that* sorted out.

   Thanks,

   Monte

2. 
   BillHartmann | Aug 01, 2003 04:19pm | #6

   Ok

   That sounds like a sewer ejector pump and not a sump pump.

   There should be some way to have adjust the alarm level.

   Get the name and model number of the pump and then get the manual for it. Will probably have to open it up and maybe even pull it to do get that.