JHughes
New Member
My condo complex was built on a wetland and the drainage system that was never completed, so the water level is much higher than it was intended to be. My sump pump runs every 2 ½ minutes and has for 4 years (everyday of the year...this is not an exaggeration). My end unit carries the mother load for the whole building. They all have pumps that a few times a day. I have burned out 3 pumps, and have had to have the pipes that expel the water replaced because they become solid with a red silt. Initially the smell from the slim that comes into my pump was a major problem; that isn’t as bad as it was. The red/orange silt and slime (an organic iron material) gets so thick that I used to have to use a wet vac to suck up the material from the pump pit and carry the buckets outside. My condo association finally stepped in to help and had a trash pump installed that is more powerful then a regular sump pump. I now use a strong hose spray to stir up the material and the pump sucks it out. I also have always, and still do, run a hose into the pipe that brings the water into the pit. There is an opening in the floor midway between the pit and far wall where I stick a hose and push it as far as it will go, and I run water, full blast, for several minutes. I then remove the hose and the water rushes back through the pipe into the pit. This water is very nasty and thick with a red slimy material that has apparently built up where the water enters the pipe near the outside wall. It has been a year since the trash pump was installed and it started laboring, running very slow. The association sent another plumber who used a chemical to clean out the pit and the mess that was plugging up the pump. It now runs much better. He suggested I use CLR regularly the keep the pit clean. I’m surprised non of the other plumbers made this suggestion. I could write a book on the whole nightmare pertaining to this water issue that involve the township, plumbers, engineers, and the like; but I am trying to stick to info that will help you understand the problem. I obviously need any helpful suggestion I can get. This being a condo, I am unable to solve the outside drainage issues; I can only deal with the maintenance to control the inside issues. If need anymore info to help you understand this mess, please ask. I also want to add that I’m a 65 year old female who knows very little about the mechanics of all of this and is ready to pull her hair out!!!...and moving isn’t an option…HELP!!