Sump Pump, GFCI - Would you?

[Monster5601]

We recently had our crawl space encapsulated which included a sump with dual independent pumps. Our local code requires dedicated 20 amp circuits for each pump but it leaves GFCI up to us. I Googled this topic and was presented with "yes you should" and "no you don't". What do you all do? For those that have your pumps on a GFIC, are there issues of the GFIC interrupting for no apparent reason?

 

[RNeumann]

If you do a GFI buy a breaker so you aren’t having to crawl under the place to reset it.
Some pumps will trip the GFI so the code leaves it up to the installer. What did the contractor recommend- they do this all the time.

If it was my place, I did the install and it was a dedicated circuit I’d skip the GFI.

 

[Looking4new]

My sump pump is NOT on a GFCI outlet. In 25 years I have not had a problem.

 

[Deere Dude]

I installed two sump pumps with dedicated breakers, circuits and GFCI outlets. They kept on tripping so out they came. Never found out why. Never had a problem since then.

If it was difficult to get at or catastrophic if they fail, I would skip them.

 

[Fallon]

A GFCI on a sump pump means you find out it tripped when things start flooding. Similar issue for a garage fridge or freezer.

 

[KennyG]

No GFCI on sump pumps. At least that's what I've always been told.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Back iin the 80's, I had this issue. I happened across an article in Popular Mechanics I think it was that suggested using a hospital grade GFCI. I cannot find that article or remember the specifics but that is what I did. My friend who owned a hardware store felt that he was taking my money but ordered one in. I installed it and it worked.

Most of the articles that I came up with while digging into this before I posted go back and forth on code but mainly the suggestion is to use a dedicated circuit with a regular outlet.

Pricey but there is a wi-fi outlet that will notify you of a pump issue. Not sure how well these work?

 

[oldnslo]

GFCI's do not like inductive loads like electric motors. Like QRTRHRS states some hospital grade GFCI have a HP rating. My two cents I would not put a sump pump on a GFCI circuit.

 

[mbohuntr]

We discovered the previous owner put our pump on a GFCI circuit after we found 4' of water in the basement.. lost the pump, furnace, and hot water tank.. IMHO, your money would be better spent on a disconnect for the pump in case of a flood, and a water level alarm.. water and electricity don't mix well.

The disconnect will keep you safe if you have to wade in there.. don't count on the breaker tripping.. I have worked on circuits that were open under water that didn't trip the breaker.. voltage at the fixture, but won't work.. the feed had burned open, but the water had enough resistance not to trip the breaker..

 

[Industrial Toys]

No, water nor earth is conductive enough to trip a breaker. Actually, water isn't apparently conductive at all. Just the minerals in it.

I would use a portable cord ended GFI if working on a sump pump, but not when in service.

 

[mbohuntr]

I like that advice!

 

[Budweiser John]

There is no good reason to install a GFI ahead of a sump pump or sanitary pump as long as the pump outlet is a single gang single hole outlet and the pump is protected by a dedicated breaker with a home run to the pump. Local or state code may State otherwise however, so after the inspector leaves, kill the juice and remove the GFI.
There are battery powered alarm boxes that are simply left on the floor near a pump crock and should a fairlure occure the box will become wet and emit a loud screech similar to a smoke alarm we got one at Menards and it will wake the dead.

B. John

 

[Monster5601]

Most of the articles that I came up with while digging into this before I posted go back and forth on code but mainly the suggestion is to use a dedicated circuit with a regular outlet.

Pricey but there is a wi-fi outlet that will notify you of a pump issue. Not sure how well these work?

That device looks very interesting and the reviews are good. The price is a bit steep for me but I'm thinking about it because it does include a high water sensor which is something I was going to add.

I decided not to put the two pumps on GFICs. The only reason I considered it was the rare possibility of someone using one of the two outlets while working down in the crawl space. I'm going to use a single outlet box for each pump and add a third GFIC circuit into the crawl space if for any reason someone ever needs power down there.

Thank you much for the feedback, appreciated.

 

[fried1765]

A GFCI on a sump pump means you find out it tripped when things start flooding. Similar issue for a garage fridge or freezer.

Obviously!

 

[Handloader109]

Gfci on a pump meant to remove water is a very ignorant thing to do. Good that you decided not to. Moisture will trip it when you need it.

 

[shooterdon]

Mine is plugged into a GFI outlet. That is the way the electrical contractor did it. Makes sense in my situation.

I also have a 12 V backup pump and an ADT moisture alarm that sounds as well at sending a warning to my cell phone if the water comes over the top of the sump. I have a spare 120V sump pump with the PVC extension already installed so I can replace the primary pump in a couple of minutes if it fails. (My basement as flooded twice in 6 years). I prefer having the GFI as I will be working with water under my feet if I need to replace the pump.

Tying into the ADT system made sense to me as I also get a warning of a power outage. During the spring, my sump pump runs every 3 minutes so the 12v backup would not last long if I was away.

 

[BertZegers]

Make 100% sure the ground wire is functional.

In my 30+ years as an electrical contractor in Europe, accidents leading to death were published in our trade magazine.
Deadly accidents happened when people went into the (narrow) crawl space with lights or power equipment not plugged into a GFI ( < 0.03 Amps protected outlet)

By the way, European GFI's will NOT trip a sump pump, hot water heater, washing machine, outlet outside and so on, unless there is a ground fault.
A pump with a ground fault that would trip a GFI , not on a GFI outlet, will sooner or later burn out, leading to a flooded situation.

 

[Industrial Toys]

It certainly doesn't help that Europe has 220 Volts. I'm guessing they don't have a center tapped transformer and 440V though.

 

[PILOON]

I had a GFI circuit on the line that serviced my tractor block heater.
Well it snowed and that GFI kicked out as it detected moisture, No more for me.
Tractor block heater is no longer GFI protected.

 

[Industrial Toys]

They don't work worth a dammm with christmas lights either.