reverse condensate pump?

[trevorcable]

Hello, Recently inspecting my gas furnace I noticed water leaking out of the condensate pump. So I pulled it out to figure out what is going on. Here is what I found: The unit runs when empty but will not run when water is added. I put it in the sink, turned it on (with no water in it and it started running), I turned the tap on and started filling it with water. It ran and did pump water out until it filled up to a certain point then the pump stopped. It then overfilled and started pouring water out of the fill hole.

Now I am no handy man. In fact I know very little about anything having to do with my house (except the things I've learned since owning a house these last 6 months) but does this pump seem like it is working backwards? Shouldn't it pump with water in it and then stop when most has been removed? Any ideas? There is a float switch and I reversed the wires but that changed nothing. Ideas anyone. Thank you for any suggestions.

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[BGBevill]

Take a closer look at the float arm that trips the micro switch to start the pump. It should make the switch when the float rises. Something is amiss with yours, or you have something very different from anything I have ever seen....

Bobby

[Speedy Jim]

Some of those pumps have a second switch or extra switch contact which will sound an alarm (or other function) if the reservoir overfills. Sounds to me like this pump was mis-wired (at the factory?).

Jim

[Mark Ash]

replying to trevorcable, Mark Ash wrote: I had the same issue. With my pump. Just randomly it switches from normal to reverse operation. So I ripped it apart and found, inside the trigger there is a copper clip that makes the connection between the power and the motor. this tiny little clip is bowed upward until pressure is placed on its center then it snaps to a downward bow. Kind of like those metal hair clips do. What went wrong is the clip sets into the trigger in a way to keep it bowed upward To fix it you'll need a nimble touch. but reset the clip into place and make sure its in the correct position before closing up the trigger case. Hope this helps.

[DerbyDad03]

The water has been leaking from the OP's pump for 12 years. The mold got so bad that he had to move. He moved to a location where furnaces are not needed.

He does however, thank you for the advice on hair clip operation. He feels (and looks) so much better now.

[micky]

This was a pretty good answer. I say that partly becuase it explains what the problem is, instead of just saying, as so many HOH do, "I had the same problem. "

Except that it's been so long since he posted this. I gather the people in HOH can't see any dates? I think the HOH people should fix that.

I also wonder if they ever see our answers. No one ever replies to one.