Sump Pump: how deep should the water normally be?

Question

My 1966-built house is on a hill and I have some mild settling problems. I replaced a sump pump a few years ago and arbitrarily set it at the bottom of the sump. As in, it pumps out a lot of the water. The sump is only about 5" fill at any time.

it seems I have some significant settling signs in that corner of the house and I'm wondering if the continual draw of the water in the sump is creating an underground stream of sorts (serving to pull more water toward my house). This theory is all cooked up in my head and I have no expertise that would suggest I'm at all right.

but I still wonder if I'm pumping too much water out and would be better served by raising the level of the pump so that the sump hole is more full (by default). Are there any guidelines that relate to the water depth of a sump?

Thanks,
Mike

Answer 1

It could just be the time of the year that is causing more water to be in the sump. Spring thaw and a lot of moisture this winter. Setting the level of water left in the sump would be a personal preference. If the pump is set to kick on with (say) 2" of water and water levels in the ground are high, the pump would be kicking on very often. I would set it to come on about 4" from the top of the sump until the weather drys out some.

Answer 2

I had sumps before and set them to pump out the water period...I had no guidelines for depth....maybe you should have a ground expert look things over....you could be right about creating a problem..... good luck

Answer 3

even though the pit is in a corner...it is drawing water equally from all directions,,,,would seriously doubt that it is the reason for you settling problem

Answer 4

The drain pipe is clogged somewhere past the point where the downspouts tie in.