How high can I let water rise in sump?

[J Gary C]

Is it ok to lengthen the travel of the floating switch on the sump pump so that the pump doesn't run so often (every 1 1/2 minutes for 30 seconds or so, hour after hour), even if that means that the water level rises to the top of the inlet drain pipe? Or will that cause problems because of increased back pressure in the drain pipe (which appears to that perforated flexible plastic type, 6" or so)? I have done everything I can think of to direct the sump discharge water and the downspout water away from the foundation,but our lot is low, the soil is clay, and I am afraid I am stuck with a lot of water run off.

[majakdragon]

Either you have an excessive amount of water coming in or your low water cutoff is set too high.The pump should not cycle that often. Is there water coming back from the 6' discharge pipe? You can set the high water switch where you want to but if the water pumped out is returning to the sump it is clogged and needs to be fixed. Good luck.

[BobF]

OK, its late and I have a bad head cold, but the math doesn't make sense.
All you will do is make the pump run for 105 secs every 45 secs or minute. You won't change the cycle time by much. It will still continue to cycle. Better to find and correct the source.

How long has this been going on?
Have you had a lot of rain lately?

I know of two causes for this as I have seen both in my old neighborhood.
First possibility is that your house is in a flood plain and/or on a spring (underground river). In other word - the water table is now above your basement. Not much you can do for this.
The second possibility is your water main is leaking. Is your water meter at the street? Is your water bill higher than usual? This can be fixed, but it is not cheap.

You might want to try laying your own corrugated pipe as far away from the house as you can. Keep it on a slight downhill slope to drain away from the house. Put the sump pump discharge into the pipe.

[Bob Haller]

I gave some thought to having a bachoe dig a ditch in the yard around most of the house with corrugated pipe and gravel running the discharge to the street. This after noting a area of the yard that the grass ALWAYS grows nice and green. I believe theres a natural spring or old stream covered when the home was built 50 years ago.

I already had a partial exterior french drain plus interior french drain with a overworked sump pump...

The key is to keep the water away from the house. Does the yard slope towards the home? Downspout drains good? REALLY?

neigbor dumping water on your property?