Recommendations for replacing a tethered sump pump float?

JDgreen227 · Mar 17, 2015

Just got a replacement for a Craftsman pedestal type sump pump that had a lifetime warranty and was installed back in 2004, since Sears discontinued that model I ended up with a "comparable" 1/2 horsepower submerged type with a 3 year warranty. I can accept the limited warranty, however: What I detest about submerged type sump pumps is that they use a tethered float switch. My pedestal type pump with a vertical float switch could be adjusted to start pumping when the water in the 24" deep sump basin reached 20" and pumped water out until the depth in the sump reached about 3-4". The new pump kicks in when the water level reaches 13" depth, and then cuts out when the depth reaches 5"...and that is barely half the capacity of the sump basin because it is larger at the top than the bottom. The tethered float switch limits the adjustability because the sump basin is narrower on the bottom.

My understanding is that sump pump motor life is dependent upon how often it is required to operate...meaning a pump that operates in more frequent cycles will reach the end of it's service life quicker than one that is called on to operate less frequently.

So...can anyone here give me a recommendation of what to use as a replacement sump pump switch for the tethered type which is OEM, based on personal experience?

Thank you for any feedback or opinions. It is appreciated.

zzvyb6 · Mar 17, 2015

All kinds of replacement parts on eBay. I used to get them from Graingers (Dayton brand works in all of them). I now just use an aquarium pump. It shuts off when water level drops to a half inch. No problem keeping up with the flow.

Brand new pumps of the tethered float type are less than $100.

I'd start with fixing your old one. You now have a spare anyways. Motor life is generally dependent on the number of starts. Not the motor per se, just the starting mechanism (mechanical or electrical capacitors, contactors, etc.)

JDgreen227 · Mar 17, 2015

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zzvyb6 said:
All kinds of replacement parts on eBay. I used to get them from Graingers (Dayton brand works in all of them). I now just use an aquarium pump. It shuts off when water level drops to a half inch. No problem keeping up with the flow.

Brand new pumps of the tethered float type are less than $100.

I'd start with fixing your old one. You now have a spare anyways. Motor life is generally dependent on the number of starts. Not the motor per se, just the starting mechanism (mechanical or electrical capacitors, contactors, etc.)

Thanks but to get my replacement pump the original submerged type had to be turned into Sears. The screws that threaded the baseplate into the stainless steel pump base (cast iron) rusted out. Impossible to repair (according to Sears) There are times I get up to 5GPM into the sump basin here as it happens to be set into a natural spring area on our property---impossible to predict when the construction was going on.

monster318 · Mar 18, 2015

I know exactly what your going through...I just had my submersible pump randomly lock up on me this past weekend...luckily I was in the basement when it did and saw the pit was about to over flow and caught it...I get a lot of real fine sediment in my sump pit, it caused the pump to jam up...but being 24 Years old and in that age of working 60 plus hours a week.. I wanted something to be in place incase this issue ever happened again and I am not so lucky to be home and catch it before a total basement flood insued.

On a good heavy rain fall day...or days...the creek next to my house over floods and I will have my sump pump running every 3.5 Minutes...

Here's what I did..

I had a pedestal sump pump that I picked up at a yard sale last year shortly after buying my home that I had just sitting around as a "back up pump" My pit is big enough to fit both pumps in it at the same time...So I put the pedestal pump next to my submersible one....Plumbed each one in to the drain line with each their own check valve. Set the float on the pedestal one to engage when the pit is about 3/4 of the way full...Much higher than where my submersible would come on at...Basically just so if/when the submersible fails..the pedestal catches it...Now this is where I sort of took things to the next level...On the Pedestal pump, the switch that engages the pump motor on and off as the float raises and lowers...I opened that up tapped into the power wires of the motor and came out with two 20 gauge wires to power a small buzzer that will come on when the pedestal pump runs..which should only be when/if the other pump fails...This way...If I am in the house...and hear this buzzer go off...I will know something has happened with the first pump and attention is required...

JDgreen227 · Mar 18, 2015

monster318...that is a really sensible way to rig up a backup pump...very clever. I wish my sump basin were larger at the bottom so I could rig up something identical. Problem is, those tethered floats on submersibles require a lot of clear space.