thewwkayaker
New Member
My house is below grade thus all sewage wastes go through a sewage sump system.
I have a full suite in the basement.
If there is a power failure I and my tenants know NOT to flush/drain anything so that's not a concern.
As the system works with a float to turn on/off the power to the sump it has twice been stuck (held down) by "debris".
The lowest point in the system is the tenants toilet and tub then the sinks.
When the system failed, it caused the toilet to backup and flood out - yes a major problem.
I'm looking at solutions that will prevent, on a failure, such an event. I plan to install an alarm system however that doesn't help if a) a large amount of water is draining (e.g. laundry or dish washer, tub) and no one hears it (no one is present - less likely with tub but...) b) alarm fails to go
I'm now thinking that a check valve on the toilet leg might work. If the tenants tub fills then no problem as it's large enough to hold most of any backup and even if the alarm failed to go would be noticed by the tenants hopefully in time.
Questions:
Would it work? Given that sinks are higher than the tub would the tub fill without causing the sinks to backup? Would I need a check valve the sinks?
Alarms: what is the best alarm system that could be installed.
What else can be done?
Given that it fails rarely and other than one time when the switch itself failed (I replaced it) I'm dealing with a possible problem that can occur but isn't (as far as I can tell) preventable.
Thanx for any help!
I have a full suite in the basement.
If there is a power failure I and my tenants know NOT to flush/drain anything so that's not a concern.
As the system works with a float to turn on/off the power to the sump it has twice been stuck (held down) by "debris".
The lowest point in the system is the tenants toilet and tub then the sinks.
When the system failed, it caused the toilet to backup and flood out - yes a major problem.
I'm looking at solutions that will prevent, on a failure, such an event. I plan to install an alarm system however that doesn't help if a) a large amount of water is draining (e.g. laundry or dish washer, tub) and no one hears it (no one is present - less likely with tub but...) b) alarm fails to go
I'm now thinking that a check valve on the toilet leg might work. If the tenants tub fills then no problem as it's large enough to hold most of any backup and even if the alarm failed to go would be noticed by the tenants hopefully in time.
Questions:
Would it work? Given that sinks are higher than the tub would the tub fill without causing the sinks to backup? Would I need a check valve the sinks?
Alarms: what is the best alarm system that could be installed.
What else can be done?
Given that it fails rarely and other than one time when the switch itself failed (I replaced it) I'm dealing with a possible problem that can occur but isn't (as far as I can tell) preventable.
Thanx for any help!