I'll start with why a sump pump in a 5 gallon bucket is not really a viable option. For starters, it is such a small cavity, that nearly ALWAYs the float switch gets hung on the sidewall of the bucket pit. If it has a diaphragm switch, then it will never build up enough water in the bucket to collapse the diaphragm on the sump pump, unless the whole crawlspace floods. If whatever switch the pump has never activates, it will cause the pump to never turn on to pump out any water. Very rarely do I see a pump in a 5 gallon bucket operate properly. Second, since the pump is placed in the ground only about a foot deep, it only pumps surface water that makes its way to the pump. This water bleeds in around the perimeter of the crawlspace, pools and puddles in low spots, and eventually floods the crawlspace until it reaches the bucket. Third, very rarely is the bucket drilled for water infiltration, so the bucket will float up out of the ground from water pressure. Fourth, if the bucket is drilled, it rarely has a good gravel backfill that will prevent silt from entering the bucket and clogging the pump's impeller. Fifth, it has no lid to prevent silt or mud from surface water filling up the bucket and clogging the pump. Trust me, there are many more reasons why a 5 gallon bucket is a bad idea to house a sump pump. A 5 gallon bucket was never meant to be a sump pump basin.If you have a pump in a 5 gallon bucket, give us a call 1-877-409-2837 or SIGN UP ONLINE for a FREE CONSULTATION. Also, visit our website to see our many options of permanent sump pump solutions @ www.americanbasementsolutions.com/sumppumps.html
Thanks for reading the thoughts of a crawlspace sump pump inspector,
Larry Ralph Jr.
