Sump Pump

[GregLaROCHE]

I’m remodeling my cellar where I do my reloading etc. It tends to be more humid than I would like, so I have decided to install a dehumidifier. So far, 24 hours, it works great. The problem is the capacity of the holding tank is less than a gallon.

I don’t have a drain, so I plan to have the water empty into a larger container and then pump it out. I want this to be automatic, so I don’t have to think about it. The most economical way I’ve found is a bilge pump with an automatic switch in it. Unfortunately, they seem to only be available in 12 volts. I don’t want to go through the hassle of a 12V battery and a charger for it. Is there a simple transformer I can get? The current here is 230 volts. What do I need to be concerned about such as amps etc.

I could also get an aquarium pump, but will have to rig up an automatic switch for it, whereas the bilge pump is all one unit. I’m trying to keep costs down, that’s why I am not looking at a 230V sump pump that is really overkill. The bilge pump is only €22 with Amazon Prime.

Thanks for all ideas and advice.

[GrumpyChief]

Hello, can you place it up high enough to rig a gravity drain system outdoors. An inexpensive bilge pump might not be able to pump the water high enough. See if the specs give a water lift "head" height. Good luck

[farmerjim]

A small 12 volt battery and trickle charger would probably be cheaper than a transformer and rectifier.

[metricmonkeywrench]

Not sure if the max (startup) amp draw of your intended pump but there are plenty of 110v to 12v off the shelf converters out there. Some are more temporary and others are more "fixed"

I have some that came with my Coleman 12v coolers, one that was in an old "travel" VCR and even one from an armchair (yes I'm a hoarder in some things.

[rancher1913]

just get a dehumidifier with a built in pump.

[GhostHawk]

Bottle that stuff! It is essentially distilled water, no minerals in it. So you can use it anywhere calcium build up from regular water becomes a problem. Also works great for topping off fluids in batterys, etc.

As for sump pumps, good ones run 1 to 200$ and they have to be plumbed in or connected to a pipe which leads outside well away from your foundation.

Cheaper I think to get a 55 gallon barrel, set the humidifier on it and let it drain into it. Pump it out once or twice a year when it gets full.

There are a lot of different kinds of pumps available. Transfer pumps, pumps that hook to a drill, etc.

[GregLaROCHE]

just get a dehumidifier with a built in pump.

Do they have dehumidifiers with built in pumps?

[GregLaROCHE]

Hello, can you place it up high enough to rig a gravity drain system outdoors. An inexpensive bilge pump might not be able to pump the water high enough. See if the specs give a water lift "head" height. Good luck

Actually that’s not a bad idea. I only have to go 4-5 feet above floor level. If I suspend it from the ceiling, it could work. Where is the most humidity?

[JSnover]

If it's only been 24 hours, hold off for a couple of days. I had two basements with the same problem but once the humidity got stabilized I only had to empty the bucket once a week.

[alfadan]

They also make condensate pumps for hvac use when you cant use gravity

[GregLaROCHE]

Bottle that stuff! It is essentially distilled water, no minerals in it. So you can use it anywhere calcium build up from regular water becomes a problem. Also works great for topping off fluids in batterys, etc.

As for sump pumps, good ones run 1 to 200$ and they have to be plumbed in or connected to a pipe which leads outside well away from your foundation.

Cheaper I think to get a 55 gallon barrel, set the humidifier on it and let it drain into it. Pump it out once or twice a year when it gets full.

There are a lot of different kinds of pumps available. Transfer pumps, pumps that hook to a drill, etc.

Yes I know the value of distilled water and plan to put some aside for me and friends. However, batteries don’t seem to need water added like before. Maybe it will be good for a last rinse after washing brass. I have well water and it’s full of minerals. The opposite of calcium.

[bosterr]

They also make condensate pumps for hvac use when you cant use gravity

^^^^^ This. I had one of these pumps that sat on the floor beside my high efficiency furnace and was plumbed to a drain that was about 4 feet above the floor but was routed up along the floor joists first. It was small capacity too so I think it would be a good match for your 1 gallon dehumidifer.

[Cast_outlaw]

Had a basement that flooded at my parents place always used a car battery and charger so it would work when the power was out we just had a rule bilge pump it pushed it up 4or 5 feet with press no problem

[CastingFool]

^^^^^ This. I had one of these pumps that sat on the floor beside my high efficiency furnace and was plumbed to a drain that was about 4 feet above the floor but was routed up along the floor joists first. It was small capacity too so I think it would be a good match for your 1 gallon dehumidifer.

I like this idea, Amazon has a Little Giant 230 v v
condensate pump for 69 USD.

[flounderman]

I have a used sump pump for sale, but it's 110. You can get converters for traveling to areas that have 220 current.

[jsizemore]

Little Giant condensate pump is the way to go. We pump up and out of basement offices from 2 evaporator coils. They are trouble free for years of regular use. Every once in a while you have to clean the algae from the tank.

I've look after a few punch list for house sales that have dehumidifiers in sealed crawlspaces. If the dehumidifier doesn't have an internal sump pump then they have an external condensate pump which makes a bunch easier to clean if it becomes necessary.

Pump on these things is so small that the current draw was less that 3 amps @ 120V. After start up it was only pulling .8 amp? It's been a while since I messed with it.

[GregLaROCHE]

I really like the Little Giant pumps. I found them on Amazon.com and then here in Europe. Unfortunately, like everything, they are twice the price and I am sure made in the same factory in China.
So do they have their own sump that gets pumped out when the level rises? Or else how do they work?

[marek313]

I wouldnt use any pump unless I absolutely had to. I would just raise it up and let gravity do the work. You should be able to get it done in a basement. All pumps, switches, relays have a life span and when it fails it will be in the middle of the night or when you are on vacation and by the time you realize there is a problem you have gallons of water on the floor. Always go with the KISS (Keep It Simple S...d) principle.

[alfadan]

I think most dehumidifiers have a float switch that shuts it off when the tank is full. Also the water would have dust and "stuff" in it.

[jim147]

Condensate pump is what I would do. I think I have only replaced two on units in the last 12 years and they were both very old.

The never ones have a kill switch in them that could be hooked to the dehumidifier shut off in case the pump fails.

[CastingFool]

Greg, just think of the little giant, as a mini sump pump. It has its own sump, with a float switch, and as the float goes up and down, accordingly the water level, it either shuts off the pump or starts it up. Yes, there is always the possibility of the sump overflowing, if the switch or pump fail, or the line gets clogged up. I have used one on my high efficiency furnace and A/C since Dec of 2008, without any problems.

[GregLaROCHE]

I wouldnt use any pump unless I absolutely had to. I would just raise it up and let gravity do the work. You should be able to get it done in a basement. All pumps, switches, relays have a life span and when it fails it will be in the middle of the night or when you are on vacation and by the time you realize there is a problem you have gallons of water on the floor. Always go with the KISS (Keep It Simple S...d) principle.

You have a good point. I’m going to think hard about that.

Now I just thought of another problem. It freezes in winter and that is when the humidity is the highest. It doesn’t freeze and not thaw for months, normally only a week at most then it warms up and may freeze again restarting the cycle.

If I have a small dribble, it’s more likely to freeze than a high volume from time to time.

The solution is not easy.

[wv109323]

They make dehumitifiers with built in pumps. Mine has a manual control instead of automatic but they make automatic. My unit was $169.00

[jim147]

You have a good point. I’m going to think hard about that.

Now I just thought of another problem. It freezes in winter and that is when the humidity is the highest. It doesn’t freeze and not thaw for months, normally only a week at most then it warms up and may freeze again restarting the cycle.

If I have a small dribble, it’s more likely to freeze than a high volume from time to time.

The solution is not easy.

Heat tape on the drain line. I do it in condensate pumps and walkin cool drain lines. Insulate over the tape and they work well in the winter.

[alfadan]

You have a good point. I’m going to think hard about that.

Now I just thought of another problem. It freezes in winter and that is when the humidity is the highest. It doesn’t freeze and not thaw for months, normally only a week at most then it warms up and may freeze again restarting the cycle.

If I have a small dribble, it’s more likely to freeze than a high volume from time to time.

The solution is not easy.

Then the whole evap coil would freeze over too I'd think. The things are essentially little air-conditioners. This all reminds me of the comic who wanted to put a humidifier and dehumidifier in the same room and let them duke it out.

[GregLaROCHE]

Then the whole evap coil would freeze over too I'd think. The things are essentially little air-conditioners. This all reminds me of the comic who wanted to put a humidifier and dehumidifier in the same room and let them duke it out.

The main unit is inside protected from freezing. The part I need to worry about is where it is outside, before it reaches the drain. Probably some heat tape and insulation will make it work.

[alfadan]

Ah, gotcha

[bedbugbilly]

What about a condensation pump like is used on a furnace? It has a small reservoir with a float activated switch - runs on 110. I'm sure that the prices have gone up, but the last one I bought ran around $45 IIRC - a plumbing supply store shoal carry them.

[farmbif]

somewhere I've got a sump pump tank , with a pump inside that is probably about 5 gallons, kind of looks like and the size of a shopvac that came from Grainger that I believe was made to do exactly what your needing.

her is link to it

https://www.grainger.com/product/ZOELLER-Sink-Drain-Pump-System-2P778

[GregLaROCHE]

I think I’ve decided to keep things ultra simple. I’m going to buy a aquarium pump for 23 Euros and mount the dehumidifier on top of a plastic barrel. With the cost of heat tape plus the cost of electricity to run the heat tape, it just wasn’t making sense. This way when the barrel starts to get full, I’ll manually plug in the pump and make sure it’s not below freezing outside.

Thanks for all the input and ideas.

[Hossfly]

I think I’ve decided to keep things ultra simple. I’m going to buy a aquarium pump for 23 Euros and mount the dehumidifier on top of a plastic barrel. With the cost of heat tape plus the cost of electricity to run the heat tape, it just wasn’t making sense. This way when the barrel starts to get full, I’ll manually plug in the pump and make sure it’s not below freezing outside.

Thanks for all the input and ideas.

That’s the best option I’ve heard yet. And you can keep a certain level for if you need water in a crisis.