Author Topic: Sump Pump Thumping Noise/Vibration (video) (Read 11816 times)

cfabe · « **on:** February 21, 2009, 12:04:24 AM »

I'm having a very strange problem with my newly installed sump pump and I home someone here can maybe offer some advice.

The pump works fine as far as removing water, but right after the pump shuts off, I get a repeating thumping noise that increases with frequency. This thing is under our master bedroom and it's driving us nuts! I am guessing I have some sort of pressure wave/fluctuation in the outlet pipe that is making the check valve flutter, but I can't think of what to do to fix it. I thought about removing the check valve but the water in the pipe fills the pit back up almost all the way when it rushes back in. It's a 1/2hp Simer pump pumping through about 70 feet of 1.5" PVC with only about 3 feet of head. It discharges to a low spot in our backyard.

I made a video of the problem so you can hear what it's doing with captions to explain. Video is here:
http://fabiens.org/ckblog/SumpPump.wmv
The splashing the water makes is kind of loud, but if you listen closely you can hear the thumping. From upstairs the thumping is much louder than the splashing.

Lee · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2009, 12:19:57 AM »

Some ideas in the link below. Good luck. Damn, is that annoying!!

"Drill a relief hole (1/8" or 3/16" diameter) in the discharge pipe.
This hole should be located below the floor line between the pump
discharge and the check valve. Unless such a relief hole is provided a
bottom intake pump could "air lock" and will not pump water even though
it will run."

http://www.thestuccocompany.com/maintenance/Sump-Pump-Check-Valve-Vibrates-202544-.htm

cfabe · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2009, 12:28:09 AM »

I already have the 3/16" relief hole between the pump and the check valve.

I have stumbled across that thread in my searching for an answer. It sounds like that person has the same problem I do but nothing useful was mentioned other than the relief hole.

alex_trebek · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2009, 02:47:24 AM »

Three thoughts:
1. Install a siphon break (even though you have a relief hole).
2. Might need a pee trap
3. Might need to increase check valve tension.

Good luck

cassandra and sara's daddy · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2009, 09:16:48 AM »

sounds like the water in that 70 foot verticle run is siphoning and pulling the check valve open. making it flutter as the water drains outa it is that run graded?i've never had to fix that but some form of relief hole with an anti backflow device on it might fix it. a way to check and see if this is the problem would be to disconnect pump from long run and let it run one cycle see if the noise stops. it it does a t with an internal vent outside on that long run might do the trick

cassandra and sara's daddy · « **Reply #5 on:** February 21, 2009, 09:45:38 AM »

also i can't tell from vid but is the check valve mounted on a verticle run? or a horizontal?

cfabe · « **Reply #6 on:** February 21, 2009, 09:53:31 AM »

Check valve is on the vertical run, right after the pump. It's the kind that actually threads onto the outlet of the pump, actually.

With the vacuum breaker, the highest point of the line is not in the crawl space, it's underground. If I install it inside, not at the low point will it still work?

It's a 70 foot horizontal run, not vertical. The vertical rise is about 3 feet.

cassandra and sara's daddy · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2009, 10:27:33 AM »

my best guessing, as opposed to thinking, is that what we are hearing is comparable to the glug glug that you here when you upend a bottle. if on the verticle run you put a t out to another short verticle a foot or 2 and then cap that with what is called an internal wall vent. it will allow the pump to run fine and when it stops and the pressure drops it will allow air to enter through the vent and the pipe to drain/siphon empty without the glug/thump. the vents have to be mounted level they work similarly to the float valve on a snorkel .is it fails all you have to do is cap the t. the vents thread on so make sure you get the threaded adapter for the pvc. or you can do like i do make 2 trips.its been a while but open the box and check the vent might be made for 1 inch pipe i seem to remember screwing up twice

this all presumes that the far end of the pipe is lower than the pump end , and presume can be similar to assume in results

cfabe · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2009, 12:29:24 PM »

I do actually have a Studer valve / Air Admittance valve like you mentioned in another portion of the house so I could try installing that to see if it helps.

I also have a suggestion to get a spring type check valve instead of a flap type which I think is what I have now. Thinking that the spring force may prevent it from fluttering.

cassandra and sara's daddy · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2009, 01:38:08 PM »

thats sounds like 2 good plans. i think/guess that the noise is valve flutter most sump pumps have shorter runs. you on a septic system? if not you could surreptitiously plumb sump into main house drains. eliminate run

never_retreat · « **Reply #10 on:** February 21, 2009, 10:03:18 PM »

Quote from: cassandra and sara's daddy on February 21, 2009, 01:38:08 PM

thats sounds like 2 good plans. i think/guess that the noise is valve flutter most sump pumps have shorter runs. you on a septic system? if not you could surreptitiously plumb sump into main house drains. eliminate run

Wow encouraging illegal acts what has this forum sunk to.

never_retreat · « **Reply #11 on:** February 21, 2009, 10:05:01 PM »

Sump pumps the only way to make *expletive deleted*it run up hill.

Bogie · « **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2009, 12:16:06 AM »

Main reason I had a sump pump was that I was paranoid about the house drains...

Gewehr98 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 22, 2009, 12:42:09 AM »

Let's not go there with the illegal bit, C&SD. :|

cassandra and sara's daddy · « **Reply #14 on:** February 22, 2009, 08:27:31 AM »

ok there is a method thats legal but i believe they will want to charge you for sewer service on the water you pump. to the best of my knowledge no ones ever done that.but i imagine you could meter it

cfabe · « **Reply #15 on:** February 22, 2009, 09:31:30 AM »

No sewers here anyway, but I can pump it wherever I want on my 20 acres as long as I run a pipe there.

Went looking for a spring loaded check valve yesterday but the only one they had at HD was a brass one for a well application which was almost $30... friend says he got one for around $10 so I'm gonna look again today.

never_retreat · « **Reply #16 on:** February 22, 2009, 09:39:54 AM »

Quote from: cfabe on February 22, 2009, 09:31:30 AM

No sewers here anyway, but I can pump it wherever I want on my 20 acres as long as I run a pipe there.

Went looking for a spring loaded check valve yesterday but the only one they had at HD was a brass one for a well application which was almost $30... friend says he got one for around $10 so I'm gonna look again today.

I found a threaded pvc 2" check valve (spring type) at lowes (i think) a while ago. It was more than 10 bucks but it wasn't as much as a 2" brass from the supply house.

cfabe · « **Reply #17 on:** February 22, 2009, 04:08:16 PM »

Today I found the proper 1.5" spring loaded PVC check valve at lowes and it has completely fixed the problem. I also added a rubber coupling and some foam under the pump to isolate the motor noise better, and tied a piece of pipe to the end of the inlet pipes do the water can glide down into the pit instead of splashing. It's much, much quieter when running now and silent otherwise. Wife is very happy! Thanks for the advice.

Nitrogen · « **Reply #18 on:** February 23, 2009, 06:40:52 AM »

Ok, I gotta ask:
I've always known this kind of thing is a no-no but never understood the reasoning behind it...

Firethorn · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2009, 10:55:17 AM »

Quote from: Nitrogen on February 23, 2009, 06:40:52 AM

Ok, I gotta ask:
I've always known this kind of thing is a no-no but never understood the reasoning behind it...

My guess:
Sewer systems are only rated for X amount of water.

Sumps tend to fill up during/after a rainfall; IE all at once.

Emptying a big sump can be 20-30 gallons. Multiply by Y thousands of homes, you can overwhelm the sewage system, resulting in raw sewage escaping containment before it's treated.

Raw sewage escaping treatment is bad.

cassandra and sara's daddy · « **Reply #20 on:** February 23, 2009, 11:02:00 AM »

on a more venal note they charge you 3 times as much to treat waste water. you are putting water in not paying for it. the fact its clean water doesn't let it bypass treatment

i know of a major educational/theological institution that dumps most of their roof drains into the city waste water stream. we are talking a lot of water here.

News:

Author Topic: Sump Pump Thumping Noise/Vibration (video) (Read 11816 times)