My in-laws house has two sump pumps - one is regular and one is not.

[cjchaps]

My in-laws recently moved into a new house that was built in the early 90's. In the basement there are two sump pumps. One appears to me to be normal in that there is a pipe in the middle of the pit were water comes out of and then once it hits a certain level the sump pumps it away.

The other one doesn't have a pipe in the well but a PVC pipe coming from the ceiling of the basement into it. The other pipe where water is ejected into by the sump goes into the ceiling of the basement as well and doesn't appear to go outside. What is this one for?

 

[bctbct]

Hard to tell from your discription but its probably a sewage pump, do they have a toilet in the basement?

does the other one have a sealed lid?

 

[K1052]

sewage pump possibly?

 

[cjchaps]

Originally posted by: bctbct
Hard to tell from your discription but its probably a sewage pump, do they have a toilet in the basement?

The basement is unifished so no toilet in the basement. The pump appears to be a normal pump - I don't think it would be able to suck toilet paper or anything.

 

[bctbct]

So you have a well that has a PVC pipe that goes up, no pump, not sealed?

 

[cjchaps]

Originally posted by: bctbct
So you have a well that has a PVC pipe that goes up, no pump, not sealed?

There is a well/pit that has a sump pump inside it. There are two pipes that go into this well. One is attached the the sump pump. The other goes a few inches below the top of the sump and is open so it appears water would come of out it.

 

[K1052]

is the house on a septic system or sewer?

 

[richardycc]

the other one could be a backup running on battery?

 

[bctbct]

I must be dumb because I am still confused.

2 wells
2 pumps

well 1 has pipe that goes through exterior wall and ejects into yard

well 2 has a pipe that goes vertically up into the 1 st floor

 

[cjchaps]

Sewer - it's in a populated chicago Suburb.

 

[cjchaps]

Originally posted by: bctbct
I must be dumb because I am still confused.

2 wells
2 pumps

well 1 has pipe that goes through exterior wall and ejects into yard

well 2 has a pipe that goes vertically up into the 1 st floor

Well 2 has 2 pipes. Both go into the ceiling and 1 is attached to the pump. So it appears water comes out of one and then the pump ejects it out the other.

 

[bctbct]

Originally posted by: cjchaps


Well 2 has 2 pipes. Both go into the ceiling and 1 is attached to the pump. So it appears water comes out of one and then the pump ejects it out the other.

very odd, I cant think of a single reason for that.

 

[K1052]

If it is an older suburb it still could be a sewage pump.

The fact that it has no apparent outlet lends itself to that conclusion.

 

[bctbct]

Originally posted by: K1052
If it is an older suburb it still could be a sewage pump.

The fact that it has no apparent outlet lends itself to that conclusion.

sewer pump would have a sealed lid.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

We've got three... one main, one backup, one battery backup.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: bctbct

Originally posted by: cjchaps


Well 2 has 2 pipes. Both go into the ceiling and 1 is attached to the pump. So it appears water comes out of one and then the pump ejects it out the other.

very odd, I cant think of a single reason for that.

I almost doubt even a cheap contractor would be stupid enough to plumb them in series....

 

[bctbct]

The pipes could be configured for a sewage pump

Pipe 1, attached to pump is sewage out

Pipe 2, unattached is a vent pipe

You would need a 3rd pipe underslab for the toilet waste line that dumps into the pit.

Pit would have a liner and a sealed lid.

 

[bunker]

Sounds to me like it could be a water powered backup sump pump.

 

[NoShangriLa]

I'm a little confuse, but it sound like you have 2 sum pump connect in series to increase head pressure (lift). It could be that the lift/run of pipe is too high & too long, and there weren't any single sum pump that could do the job readily available, therefore 2 pump connect in series to double the pressure capability.

Side note, 2 pumps in parallel increase flow rate.

Need pics.

 

[WHAMPOM]

Gray water pump, pumping used water to a holding tank.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: Curly
Sounds to me like it could be a water powered backup sump pump.

:thumbsup:

 

[runzwithsizorz]

I have this same setup in my basement, 1 is sewer, and 1 is ground water. The ground water pipe is usually a smaller diameter, and ejects somewhere on the down hill side of the house.

 

[Oceandevi]

perpetual motion device

 

[Pepsi90919]

one is for posting on ATOT about

 

[boomerang]

Radon mitigation system.