Should this sump pump setup have 2 check valves?

[Owen Lucas]

This sump pump setup does not look right to me. I believe there should be a check valve on the left sump. The one on the right is a battery powered backup pump.

I have to lower both pumps, or at least the primary one for now, as the water level is up to the drain tiles. I don't know why these pumps were set so high. With the drain tiles partially filled, the basement has a musty smell to it. I hope the smell will go away after the drains are consistently dry.

What would you do to improve this setup?

p.s. I will be ripping out the ancient water softener and putting in a completely new system.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Each pump should have it's own check valve. Especially with that much head. I have to imagine when the pump shuts off, multiple gallons dump back in.

 

[JamesBond]

I think you need a check valve on both. I have a basement watchdog combo primary and backup system that I have yet to install and it has a check valve on each pump. This probably hasn’t been much of a concern for your system because the backup pump is rarely in use. (Hopefully)

 

[Owen Lucas]

Each pump should have it's own check valve. Especially with that much head. I have to imagine when the pump shuts off, multiple gallons dump back in.

I'll have to watch when it cycles. Maybe there is a check valve built into the pump?

 

[benjamming]

What's the pump mfg & model?
That looks like a lot of misalignment at the coupler on the left pump discharge line.
Is there a vent in the discharge on both?
Do you have something that can be installed over the hole when not performing maintenance or inspecting?
Does it ever get (close to being) overwhelmed? If so, then 2 separate discharge lines out would be required.

 

[Owen Lucas]

What's the pump mfg & model?

I'll check it out when I visit again. I recall it being some kind of an economy model.

That looks like a lot of misalignment at the coupler on the left pump discharge line.

Yes, there appears to be just a rubber type union present. Maybe there was a check valve there at some point. For the time being, I might just install one there to get by.

Is there a vent in the discharge on both?

How would a vent work here? Wouldn't water spray out of it?

Do you have something that can be installed over the hole when not performing maintenance or inspecting?

Yes, there is a cover to the side, not in the picture.

Does it ever get (close to being) overwhelmed? If so, then 2 separate discharge lines out would be required.

I have not seen it operate long enough to know, I'll observe it for a while when I visit again.

 

[factorytuned2012]

I would check valve both with something like this style.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1668815310...1291&msclkid=876ef573c064150e26099264f55a8937

Check a few inches above the pump discharge where the pipe fixes to the unit many manufacturers recommend a weep hole around 1/8 inch but no larger than 3/16 in the piping to prevent the system from getting water locked if its not already drill a weep hole 45 degree angle 1/8-3/16" in diameter few inches from above the pumps discharge.

 

[benjamming]

What size is the discharge pipe? Schedule 40?

 

[RedSpider]

I would put a wooden dowel, or similar, that spans the length of that rubber junction and duct tape or zip tie it above and below the junction to keep it from flexing too much. A few years of that and those things tend to work themselves off. Had that happen at our old house, one side slipped off and the pump was throwing 30 gallons a minute on the underside of our living room subfloor during a storm. I dont know what was worse, the sound of it happening or the mess it created.

As others have mentioned, both lines need a check valve. And a sump cover would really help with any odors.

 

[mk378]

If there's no check valve on one of the pumps, when the other one is running the water would just flow back into the sump through the stopped pump with no valve. Little if any water would even get out of the basement.

To have true redundancy, there should be a dedicated outlet line for each pump all the way to outside or wherever the water goes. PVC pipe is still relatively cheap.

 

[Owen Lucas]

To have true redundancy, there should be a dedicated outlet line for each pump all the way to outside or wherever the water goes. PVC pipe is still relatively cheap.

I like this idea. I have to overhaul the sump room so I might as well implement this.

What size is the discharge pipe? Schedule 40?

1.5" Not sure of the schedule, it seems to be basic pipe so probably 40.

What's the pump mfg & model?

It is an Everbuilt 1/2 HP HDS50

Is there a vent in the discharge on both?
Do you have something that can be installed over the hole when not performing maintenance or inspecting?

You can barely see the water level but the lower drain tile is 80% full.

Is there a vent in the discharge on both?

Not sure if this is a vent or a clean out, I could not get to the top, I'll check it out when I go back.

 

[tbm5690]

That looks like quite the run with the vertical height plus the horizontal run in the last pic. I'd T the two discharge pipes together sooner above the pit to help with stability. In my opinion there is no benefit to keeping completely separate lines as long as there is a check valve prior to the T above each pump. My sump pit starts to have an odor when it's dry...yours may need to be flushed if it is stagnant water. If it's anything like mine the pump rarely runs, and often not even once in a year's time which means it dries out and/or stagnates causing a smell even with a good cover.

Edit - does your softener discharge into the pit? Looks like it might. Where does the sump line discharge...into the yard or the street?

 

[walterjay]

Yes. Each should have a check valve.

 

[benjamming]

That looks like quite the run with the vertical height plus the horizontal run in the last pic. I'd T the two discharge pipes together sooner above the pit to help with stability. In my opinion there is no benefit to keeping completely separate lines as long as there is a check valve prior to the T above each pump. My sump pit starts to have an odor when it's dry...yours may need to be flushed if it is stagnant water. If it's anything like mine the pump rarely runs, and often not even once in a year's time which means it dries out and/or stagnates causing a smell even with a good cover.

Edit - does your softener discharge into the pit? Looks like it might. Where does the sump line discharge...into the yard or the street?

tbm,
They would need to separate to take advantage of increased output in case one gets overwhelmed.