Sump Pump Problem

[allusion]

Hello all and happy holidays. I am having a major issue with my sump pump and I have no idea what to do. My sump pump has lately been getting stuck on. (We were recently killed with a bunch of rain and snow in my area) I could resolve the problem by unplugging it and replugging it back in, but then there were times where this would not work for quite some time. So that brought me to this board.

So i did some searching on the net and this board and I thought my problem was at first about the 1/8 hole being drilled in to the discharge pipe. I didn't see any evidence of the hole in my pipe so I drilled the 1/8 hole in to it. I drilled the hole below the check valve and above the pump. I then plugged the pump back in and it was still getting stuck on. Next I did research on my sump pump. I think I have a little giant 6-CIM or 6-CIA. With reading the online instructions, it appears that the switch may need to be replaced, but with the holiday happening, I can't try to get a new switch until at least Friday / Saturday. I recently had someone install a guardog battery powered backup sump pump which I think has helped save me once or twice already.

So here are my questions for now and any help is appreciated. (Please be patient I am very new to sump pumps, this is the first house i have lived in.)
1. Is there anything I can do until i get a new switch or confirm that this is the problem?
2. Should I even bother with a switch or just get a new sump pump with the floater like Zoeller M-53?
3. Should I not leave the sump pump plugged in and just leave the guarddog on to keep pumping out the water that I am still getting?

Thanks again for any help.

[Fischer]

Have you manually lifted the float and pushed it down to see if that would stop the pump. At times dirt can get into the levers and cause it to jam. Also check to see if there is an obastruction underneath the float. If the float will not go down to the bottom position you have obstruction. If it goes down and will not shut off you have a faulty switch.

Do not leave the pump on for extended times, you will burn it out and it would then be a replacement issue.

Also have seen when there is a faulty fitting that allows the water to recycle into the sump pit making the pump cyle continuously.

Another cause might be a frozen pipe making it impossible for the pump to evacuate the water.

Check on this and write back.

Good luck.

[CR500]

Looks like the CIM is a manual pump (no switch) and the CIA has a diaphragm switch. I like the diaphragm switch better than floats. They do occasionally go bad and need replacing. I usually just replace both the diaphragm and switch as they're not too expensive.

You can usually remove the cover and push on the diaphragm. You should hear the switch click and the pump turn on when its pushed in and it should click and turn off when let go. You can also remove the diaphragm and push / pull the switch.