Do I need new septic pump after the new one ran almost continuously since August?

[pablo2007]

I had a brand new septic pump installed, but it was installed wrongly, with the floats barely attached, and way too low. Because of a faulty setup and installation of the pump (floats were set way too low, so the pump switch would turn on just about every minute), should I demand the plumber to install a new one? It has been almost continuously running 24/7 since August. Is it burned out? The plumber claims that it is nothing wrong with it?

[Fischer]

If it's a good pump, they're made to last. Cheap one different story, but not many plumbers would want to install one they know is going to fail. If the pump was running dry and hot, there's a chance it could have some significant wear and tear. If it was just cycling and wasn't running dry , should probably be OK, but this is a judgement call on your part. Ask the plumber what the warranty is on the pump, and ask him to double it in writing. That should satisfy both. Either that or you could cleave it in half and each take a piece (Solomon's wisdom)

[sloooo]

I have multiple pumps at work, and what Fisher says is true. If it ran for a long time without water or any thing else, you could have an issue. If it just short cycles over and over, chances are your OK since it didn't dead head and had no load.

[RobertLangDirect]

Because of a faulty setup . . . the pump switch would turn on just about every minute) . . .

So it switched on to pump, but only had an inch of sewage to move. The added wear and tear is the marginal startup energy. You would have had to have pumped the sewage anyway, just would have runned the pump longer at less frequent intervals.

My bet is, unless you were running it dry, its fine.

[pablo2007]

He won't have anything to do with it, is willing to credit the $1,140 he charged me for the pump, as long as he could de-install the pump and take it. Should I just stop dealing with him all together?

[Fischer]

Is there another plumber availabe. Call first and explain the situation and see if he's willing to take on the job. Better to get your duck in a row.

[Wgoodrich]

I am with Robert Lang. If the lower float shut off was set to shut off before it ran dry which I suspect is the case you just had a short cycle setting in your floats. The frequent running increased you electric usage but doubt it hurt the pump. I would demand the installer pay for the added electricity but doubt the pump is a worry. Doubt you actually could drop the shut off float low enough for the pump to have run dry. Whoever readjusted the floats ask if they only moved the high float turning on the pump and left the low pump shut off float as is. If he answers yes quit worrying.

Good Luck

Wg

[pablo2007]

Yes, I had a new plumber. Spent almost 2 hours assesing the problem, didn't charged me anything because he felt bad for the whole mess, and felt that the first plumber should correct it at no additional charge. (Obviosuly, that is not going to happen.)

[pablo2007]

The new plumber will install a new pump on Wednesay, new switch, etc. The "old" plumber just wants his pump back, he won't adjust the floats or do anything. So....the new problem is that tonight, while I opened the septic chamber to listen to the pump, I heard constant water (like a faucet turned on, with moderate water coming in) into the chamber with nothing going in from the house. It is not the effluent coming back. The water comes from the uper left side of the tank (used a flashlight) and it is a continuous drip. A friend of mine says that it is because we just had some heavy rain, and it should stop after a few days. Is it ground water finding its way into the tank? Is this common or I am not yet at the end of this story? Help.

[suemarkp]

Ground water should not be entering your system. Point this out to your new plumber to get his take on what is happening. Is your tank concrete? Perhaps you need to repair a crack or an inspection port cover is not fitting tightly. Are you sure there is no pipe entry there where it is dripping? How deep is your tank buried? I would hope you don't have surface water that near the top of the tank.

[dmangalo]

pablo it could be second tank is higher and without pump to pump it out gravity is letting gray water trickle back?????
my humble opinion....just a sparky not plumber.
but have tested many original install to verify alarm, motor working properly and usually here sound of water after i shut off power and close lid.
good luck
dman

[pablo2007]

Ground water should not be entering your system. Point this out to your new plumber to get his take on what is happening. Is your tank concrete? Perhaps you need to repair a crack or an inspection port cover is not fitting tightly. Are you sure there is no pipe entry there where it is dripping? How deep is your tank buried? I would hope you don't have surface water that near the top of the tank.

I apologize for sounding like I don't know anything about this stuff. The truth is...I don't. So, please forgive my lack of technical terms, etc. And I really appreciate ALL your help. My tank is very close to the surface. I can't see if there is a pipe entry there yet, but I opened one of the two small chambers tops, the chamber that is the closest to that corner, and I could see a small swirl of water, like water from a toilet draining very very slowly. Could the water come from this chamber above, discharging through the pipe? Why is it so constant in volume and never slows down if there is no water going in from anywhere? it is not a lot, but enough to probably make the pump kick more that it should.

[pablo2007]

pablo it could be second tank is higher and without pump to pump it out gravity is letting gray water trickle back?????
my humble opinion....just a sparky not plumber.
but

Thank you....maybe. I did shut off the pump for a few days because of the crazy workings of the pump switch. Plus, the new plumber told me to shut it off so he could get in there and change the pump. The two chambers are just a little bit higher than the main. But when I turn the pump on, water comes in trickling even when the pump is pumping out to the leach fields. ?
(I truly appreciate your input. Thanks.)