Sump Pump Noise

[jmgmcg]

Sump Pump Noise Transfer to Bedroom

I just had a plumber install my new Zoeller 57 Series sump pump. It was installed correctly with a check valve and union above the sump pit. The piping runs up to near the floor joists in the basement and then angles to the left and out through the foundation wall. The piping is PVC and is suspended with plastic pipe hangers from the floor joists. This is just below a bedroom where I sleep. My problem is that the piping transfers a lot of noise, vibration and pumping sounds as well as the "thunk" of the check valve through the joists and floor. The level of noise is enough to wake a sleeper. Is there a different way to route the piping, insulated the pipe hangers from the joist etc. to lessen or eliminate the humming, gurgling and other drainage noise away from the bedroom upstairs? I cannot move the sump so I am stuck with this problem until there is a solution. Would insulation between the joists dampen the sound somewhat?
Any answers would be appreciated.
Thanks, jmgmcg

 

[Prashster]

They make insulated/grommetted hangers that use rubber to absorb shock. However, check valve banging is a common problem. Anything to absorb the transfer of vibrations to the joists.

In my area, sump pumps are not required to have check valves if they terminate to open air. If that is your code too, then you might try removing the cvalve. Please confirm with yr construc. official, though.

- p

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

cast iron check valve

get a zoeller .....CAST IRON --- body check valve.....

NOT the shitty cheap sollid plastic ones.....


it wont cost much more than 15 bucks.....for a good nights sleep.


they are far quieter than the cheap ones normally
installed.........and occasionally I have to install one when
the noise level drives everyone crazy.


then simply take down the hangers and
wrap the pipe where the hangers are with
some cut up WHITE bath towells ----to match the pipe
-----make it a thick heavy wrap----
-----then re-hang them all again loosley -----


it should drop the sound down dramatically

 

[jmgmcg]

Sump Pump Noise Transfer to Bedroom

To Master Plumber Mark,
Do you replace the plastic hangers with the towel material and just hang the piping by the towel material? Or do you get bigger hangers and wrap them with the towels? Also since I'm using 2 inch outside diameter PVC pipe, 1 1/2 inside diameter, what Zoeller Check valve would be your choice? The cast iron one may not install in line with the PVC piping or will it? What model would you suggest? The $15 -$19 model is a PVC model. I believe the cast iron ones cost more.
Thanks, jmgmcg

 

[SumppumpPimp]

Thanks for giving us a call jmgmcg, I hope you get everything taken care of.

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

cast iron check valves...

I would guess that they are about 20 bucks

and come in both 1 1/2 and 2 inch and they are

good to go on PVC all the time



you can hang your pipes any way you please....

I suggested that you wrap the pipes first with some towells

and then you can even use bailing wirre around the

wrapped part and nail it up to the rafters....

you dont have to re-use those plastic hangers......


just about anything will do to replace that hanger system

 

[Prashster]

With all due respect to Master Plumber Mark (definitely follow his advice over mine), it has been my experience that you cannot use any hanger you want. My inspector insisted that plastic pipes have plastic or rubber-coated metal hangers. Further, all horizontal pipes required rigid supports. I was only able to use plastic straps on the verticals.

I would imagine that just hanging the pipe with the towel could over time compromise fittings. It might absorb sound xfer to the house, but would still allow a lot of shake. The pumped water exerts a decent amt of force on the pipe and IMHO you should secure it rigidly...

 

[jmgmcg]

J Hooks on Joists

It seems to me that I remember the piping "snapping into" the J hooks when being installed by the plumber to support the horizontal portions of the sump outflow pipe. If I used towels and bailing wire or even bigger J hooks, they would not be held rigidly and would perhaps compromise the glued fittings down the line. I am investigating grommeted and insulated J hooks as a solution to keep humming and check valve noises from transferring to the bedroom via the joists.
Thanks for all your input, everybody. It has been most helpful.
JMGMCG

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

loose is better

nothing is written in stone with what you use for supporting
pipe its only supposed to be no more apart than 4 feet apart...


the idea here is you are trying to lessen the NOISE LEVEL...

and by hanging it all back RIGID you defeat the purpose you

to achieve.....ie a good nights sleep....
--------------------------------------------------------------
J jooks are not "code" here and are not required to be used.....

I keep a 200 foot roll of heavy #10 copper coated electrical wire
in my truck and use it quite often like bailing wire for many
sagging pvc pipes......and it probably will hold 5 times the
weight of a J hook too


no one is going to be doing "chin ups" on your sump pump line
down in that basement....but the copper wire would still support the
weight if someone would.

once its installed you are going to
forget about it.....no one is going to be fooling with it

the idea I am getting at it is to hang it loosely---nor RIGIDELLY
so that the noise does not transfer through the J hook up into the
rafters....

So.as long as it has support and does not sag in spots
it will work just fine.

you can experiment with this through trial and error
and see what works best

Remember the idea was to get a good nights sleep.