How Can You Ruin A Sump Pump In Two Seconds? Cut The Ground Prong!
How can you ruin a sump pump in two seconds? Cut the ground prong!
This homeowner wanted to add a device to add ultra-violet rays to the return duct in the HVAC system.
But there was an outlet nearby that the silly electrician installed that only had one receptacle to plug into! (Never mind that it was dedicated to the sump pump and the sump pump alone...)
What to do?
Go into a drawer and find a small extension cord that has three plug openings!
Bummer! Look at that. There's a stupid third prong on that sump pump. How can I plug it in?
No problem! (Snip, snip) Now both things can get plugged in!
I can just see the thought process.
If you read the ticket that comes with a sump pump that explains how to install it there will be two warnings, with the classic red triangle warning sign.
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WARNING 1 - This installation must be in accordance with the National Electric Code and all applicable codes and ordinances.
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There are reasons for both those warnings!
A sump pump is an electric device sitting in water!
Ruining the pump's ability to be grounded is not smart. And an extension cord, certainly undersized, can alter the voltage it gets. Using one alters what voltage the outlet intends to provide!
I have said over and over, if we aren't smart enough to obey the codes created by man (which are MINIMUM STANDARDS) those very same codes will still be enforced by Mother Nature, who will shove them down our throats with impunity.
Impunity I tell you! Just look at her! I would call that a triple-dog dare! Shiver me timbers!
My recommendation: CALL A PROFESSIONAL when you want to do something you aren't sure about! Find out if what you want to do is smart, or right, or correct, or according to code! The codes are there for a reason. We can ALWAYS exceed the codes, but the minimum standards they require will suffice in many applications, like installing a sump pump.
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC
Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.
Office (703) 330-6388 Cell (703) 585-7560
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