How To Adjust Float Switch On Sump Pump
So you have a sump pump in your basement to deal with all that nasty water that gets in there. Great! But now, something is not working right. You’ve turned the sump pump on and off, checked the switch, and everything else it could be. There’s just one more thing you need to check: whether or not the float switch needs adjusting. Let’s take a look at how to adjust the float switch on your sump pump so it works again.
What is a sump pump?
A sump pump is a pump that gets installed in your basement to deal with water. This can be rainwater, floodwater, or whatever other watery liquid is getting into your house. It’s usually installed in a pit in the floor of the basement and has an outlet that gets connected to a drain. That way, any water that gets down there can be pumped out.
Sump pumps come in all shapes and sizes, but they all have a float switch. This is a small switch that gets installed in the pit with the pump. The float switch is activated when the water level rises to a certain point, which triggers the sump pump to start pumping the water out.
How to adjust your float switch
The first step to adjusting your float switch is making sure you know where it is. Most sump pumps have one or two float switches. Your first step is checking to see if the switch is next to the pump or attached to the pump itself.
The second thing you need to do is make sure the switch is all the way down in the water. If it’s not, you’ll need to lower it down. But first, make sure it’s unplugged!
Once it’s down in the water, you can use a screwdriver to adjust the screw at the bottom of the float switch. You want to make sure that when the switch is full of water, the top of the switch is at the same level as the water in the pit.
This way, the switch will activate when the pit fills with water. Make sure to test the pump after you’ve adjusted the float switch. If it doesn’t work, there’s another step you can take to fix the problem.
How to tell if the float switch needs adjusting
If your sump pump is coming on way too often, the float switch may need to be adjusted. There are a few other things you can check first, though, to make sure the float switch isn’t the problem. We mentioned that the float switch is activated when the water level in the pit rises above a certain point. If the pump turns on and off too often, it’s possible the water level is too low. Check the pump and make sure there’s water in the pit and it’s not dry. If the pit is full of water and the pump is coming on too often, there’s a good chance the float switch needs adjusting.
Why your float switch may not be working
There are a few reasons your float switch may not be working. If you’ve checked the water level and it’s too low, adjusted the switch and the pump is still not turning on, there could be something else wrong. One thing you can check is your circuit breaker. It’s possible that the pump is sucking too much current and tripped the breaker. If this is the case, you may have to install a circuit breaker on the switch.
If your pump is making weird noises or smells like something is burning, turn it off immediately. Something is definitely wrong and you need to check it out. If the float switch is broken, you’ll have to replace it. You may also need to replace the pump if there is something wrong with it.
Conclusion
A sump pump gets installed in your basement to deal with water. This can be rainwater, floodwater, or any other kind of watery liquid that gets in there. It’s usually installed in a pit in the floor of the basement and has an outlet that gets connected to a drain. The pump gets activated when the water level rises above a certain point, which triggers the sump pump to start pumping the water out.
