stick hand in wet sump pit

[John Dirks Jr]

Should I avoid sticking my hand in a pit full of water to lift the float in an attempt to activate the pump? My guess is yes, but I wanted to see what any of you might have to say on the matter.

Do any of you ever use a wood stick or other non-conductive object to reach into a pit full of water to lift a float?

[Brandon Whitmore]

I carry a long screwdriver, and use the handle side when possible. If it is full of water (above the float), it is not working as intended. Often, it is only because the float is jammed against the sump/ bucket.

[Scottpat]

Originally posted by AHI

Do any of you ever use a wood stick or other non-conductive object to reach into a pit full of water to lift a float?

That's a heck of lot smarter than testing it with your hand, foot or any other appendage.[:-paperba

[fqp25]

I think something "non-conductive" is a good idea...

Frank

[Bill Kibbel]

Telescopic magnet.

[msteger]

I carry a telescopic mirror and use it for things like this (testing sump pumps) as well as testing smoke detectors, checking behind clothes dryers, etc. Don't stick your hand in the water.

[kurt]

You know, that's a good thought. I'm an admitted dumbass; I've stuck my hand in a few thousand sumps.

Then one day last year, I was trying to figure out why a diaphragm switch wasn't working and WHAM! Major shock in the hand.

I got re-schooled in jobsite smarts. A little lesson in who's the dummy.

Me.

[Eric B]

The ones that can catch me are the Hyro-Matic pumps with vent tubes. I've had a couple of occasions where I sucked water back up through the vent. I think this is where the term "every action causes a reaction" came from.

[mthomas1]

Eric,

As I'm not familiar with these I looked up the site:

http://www.hydromatic.com/

But I'm still missing something, what's the issue with testing these?

- Thanks

[John Dirks Jr]

How about a claw hammer with a wooden handle? If it's not long enough then duct tape a piece of broom handle to it.

[Mike Lamb]

I keep about 30" of #12 elec. wire rolled up in my bucket for tying my ladder off to gutters and lifting pump floats

[Scottpat]

Originally posted by Mike Lamb

I keep about 30" of #12 elec. wire rolled up in my bucket for tying my ladder off to gutters and lifting pump floats

Mike this sounds like good fodder for a new comic!!

[Eric B]

Michael,

Go here: http://www.hydromatic.com/effluent/spd50.html

Instead of a float, you will see a black chamber next to the pump.

On the bottom of this chamber is a rubber diaphragm. As the water in the sump rises it creates pressure on the diaphragm and activates the pump. From the chamber is a tube that runs up the power cord to the plug.

In the attached picture is a hydro-matic plug with the white vent tube. If you suck on the tube you will cause the diaphragm to pull up much as it would from water pressure. This will close the switch and activate the pump.

Now, when you suck on the tube you must then place a finger over the tube to prevent air from re-entering and filling the partial chamber vacuum that you created by sucking air out. Plug the plug into the outlet with finger on vent tube and pump will run until you remove the finger, then pump shuts off.

By plugging in the secondary plug you bypass the pump switch and only confirm that the pump runs - this will not confirm the switch's function which sometimes has failed.

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[John Dirks Jr]

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[Jack Ahern]

Orphaned ski pole. Can double for walking stick when walking snow/ice covered yard.[:-banghea