Sorting Out Your Sump Pump Switch

No sump pump system can work without a sump pump switch. This simple but very useful mechanical device, which usually comes with a floater, is fabricated to trigger your sump pump into action when the water in the sump pit reaches a certain level. The switch is able to detect it because of the floater.

The sump pump switch comes in several types. Most sump pump installations use a microswitch that is attached to a rod, to which, in turn, the floater is attached. This type is called the vertical switch. When the water level in the pit rises, the floater rises with it, lifting the rod with it. This action turns off the electric circuit and signals the motor to start pumping out water. When the water level goes back down, the floater and the rod sinks, signaling the motor to stop pumping.

Another type of switch is called the wide angle float switch. This type uses a cord attached to the floater to turn on the switch. As the water level rises, the floater rises until the cord is tight enough to pull the switch.

Some switches are designed to activate on two stages: the first stage activates the pump while the second stage, which occurs when the water doesn’t stop seeping into the sump pit, sets off an alarm or a back-up sump pump.

There are other setups that are fitted with two float switches: one is attached to the pump and the other, which is preset at a higher level, activates an alarm. This type of installation warns the owner of the house of an impending basement disaster when the sump pump fails and does not pump water on the signal of the first floater. The second floater is usually set at about two inches higher than the first, so the owner has enough time to act before it floods.

While sump pump float switches operate in a simple way and are easy to install and replace, they are not fail safe. Sometimes, the sump pump system fails because of a simple yet undetected switch problem, such as the switch getting stuck and restricted from moving freely with the water level, or the switch being “fooled” by debris and deposits that have accumulated in the sump pit bottom. Sometimes, sump switches simply stop working, causing the motor to continue running until it’s worn out. Extra care should be taken when monitoring the condition of the switches to make sure the entire system is efficiently working. Unfortunately, while its simple design works to its advantage, float switches are not repairable most of the time. The only way to address problems is to replace the sump pump switch altogether.

The secret to an efficient and successful sump pump system is a working sump pump switch. There are other more sophisticated and modern sump pump switches that you can buy from your local hardware, which are claimed to be more reliable than the good old float switch. But for those who want something simple that works, the float switch is always the better choice.