When you first start looking at sump pumps for your home, one of the most common things you’re going to come across is warnings about the float switch. It’s important to understand what this switch is and how it affects the overall operation of your sump pump. We’re going to dive into this in even more detail below.
How Does a Sump Pump Work?
To understand what a float switch does for your sump pump, it’s imperative to understand how your whole sump pump operates. Your sump pump will be placed within a basin beneath the floor level for your basement. As water starts to back up in your basement, it will flow to the lowest point, which will be your sump pump basin.
Your sump pump will be set to turn on when the water level reaches a certain point. At this set threshold, you’ll find the float switch. When your sump pump turns on, it will start to pump water out of the basin and to a safe location away from your home.
What Is a Float Switch?
Simply put, a sump pump float switch is a device on your sump pump that detects water when your home is experiencing flooding. This float switch is responsible for alerting your sump pump that it needs to kick on because water levels have risen to a set threshold. The float itself is typically comprised of a circular shape that floats on the surface of the water.
How Does a Float Switch Work?
The float switch itself will rise with the water level. When it reaches its set threshold, the switch will close. This switches the sump pump to the on position so it will start to discharge water from the pit. When the water level drops down to the set threshold, the float switch will open back up and stop the pump from running. With this in mind, it’s very clear to see just how important the float switch is for your sump pump to operate appropriately.
Types of Float Switches
Depending on the specific sump pump that you purchase, it could have one of a handful of different types of float switches. There are four main types of float switches that you should be aware of. These include the tethered switch, vertical float switch, diaphragm switch and electronic float switch.
Tethered Float Switch
A tethered float switch will have an individual floating element that raises and lowers with the water level within the pump basin. The element itself will typically have a floating hollow body that has a steel ball inside of it. The floating element is adhered to the pump via a cord. Whenever the water level rises, the float will pivot and cause the ball to activate the pump switch. It’s important to note that a tethered float switch needs a large basin to operate effectively. Also, its overall cord length will affect the risk of getting tangled up within the basin.
Vertical Float Switch
A vertical float switch is typically designed for use with smaller pump basins that have a relatively low depth to them. They have a very simple design where the floating element is actually connected to a rod. As water levels rise, the float element rises on the rod. The rod itself pushes against a lever that operates the electric switch to turn the pump on and off when the float rises too high or falls too low.
Diaphragm Float Switch
A diaphragm float switch uses a plastic housing with a diaphragm inside it. As the water level rises within your pump basin, it puts pressure on the diaphragm. When the diaphragm deflects under the pressure, it will turn on the internal switch for your sump pump. This type of float switch simply lays on the surface of the water in your sump pump basin.
Electronic Float Switch
An electronic float switch is considered one of the most reliable on the market. Unlike other types of float switches, the electronic float switch doesn’t have a lot of moving parts. Rather, it only has a couple of components inside its plastic housing. Inside the housing, there’s a switch that has probes on it. As water fills the pump’s basin, water pressure is detected by means of the probe sensors. The sensors measure electrical resistance and will turn on the sump pump switch when it detects that the resistance hits a certain threshold.
Most Common Float Switch Issues
As with any component in your sump pump, its float switch can experience issues from time to time. It can be helpful to understand what these issues are for two main reasons. First, the knowledge will help you to select the best float switch to reduce your risk of experiencing an issue. Second, you’ll be able to understand why your sump pump float switch isn’t working correctly.
Sticking
One of the most common culprits behind float switch issues is the switch itself getting stuck. This can happen when the floating element gets tangled up in the basin. Sometimes the float can get trapped between the wall of the basin and the pump, where it won’t be able to rise or drop as necessary. Furthermore, debris that enters the sump pump basin can end up wedged between the floating element and its attachments. This will also render it unable to move up or down with the water level.
Set at Wrong Threshold
Another common problem that could cause your float switch to not work properly is setting it at the wrong threshold. If the threshold is set too high, it can allow water to back up into your home before it ever turns your pump on. If the threshold is set too low, it can continuously overrun your pump. This can be particularly damaging if you have a submersible sump pump that needs to be submerged in water to function.
Signs of a Float Switch Issue
There are a few key signs that will let you know that there’s an issue with your sump pump’s float switch. The first and most obvious sign is that your sump pump won’t turn on when it’s supposed to. At some point, you may notice that your basement is flooding with water and your pump isn’t running. More likely than not the problem is going to be with your float switch as compared to other components like the sump pump motor.
Another key indicator that your float switch is malfunctioning is your sump pump is continuously running. Unfortunately, this continuous running can end up removing all the water from your sump pump basin. This will cause the motor of your pump to overheat and eventually fail.
Reliable Sump Pump Service
Matheson Heating, Air & Plumbing offers reliable sump pump services for people throughout the entire Commerce, MI community. Our professionals will be more than happy to assist with all your plumbing, heating, air conditioning and indoor air quality needs. Simply call our office today to schedule your next plumbing service appointment.