SUMP PUMP SYSTEM, INCLUDING SUMP PUMP MONITOR AND APPLICATION
The present invention provides a sump pump system, including a sump pump monitor and application. The sump pump system includes a sump pump. Components of the sump pump system are installed in and/or near a sump. The sump collects liquid, such as water, from an inlet pipe. The sump pump is operable to remove water from the sump. The sump pump is fluidly connected to a discharge pipe. The discharge pipe is operable to carry water from the sump pump to a storm sewer or other discharge point.
1 . A sump pump system comprising:
a water level sensor, the water level sensor operable to detect a level of water in a sump; and
a processor, the processor operable to communicate with the water level sensor;
wherein the water level sensor is operable to detect the level of water in the sump and to send a signal to the processor indicating the detected water level;
wherein the processor is operable to receive the signal from the water level sensor indicating the detected water level; and
wherein the processor is operable to assign at least one of a pump health state and a flood risk based on the detected water level.
2 . The sump pump system of claim 1 ,
further including a pump parameter sensor, the pump parameter sensor operable to detect a parameter relating to operation of a pump;
wherein the pump parameter sensor is operable to detect the parameter relating to operation of the pump and to send a signal to the processor indicating the detected pump parameter;
wherein the processor is operable to receive the signal from the pump parameter sensor indicating the detected pump parameter; and
wherein the processor is operable to assign at least one of the pump health state and the flood risk based on the detected water level and the detected pump parameter.
3 . The sump pump system of claim 2 , wherein:
the pump parameter sensor is a pump current sensor; and
the pump current sensor is operable to determine whether current is flowing to the pump.
4 . The sump pump system of claim 2 , wherein:
the processor is operable to determine if the pump has failed based on the detected water level and the detected pump parameter.
5 . The sump pump system of claim 2 , wherein:
the processor is operable to determine a current pump health state based on the detected water level and the detected pump parameter.
6 . The sump pump system of claim 2 , wherein:
the processor is operable to determine if a primary pump and a backup pump have failed based on the detected water level and the detected pump parameter.
7 . The sump pump system of claim 2 , wherein:
the processor is operable to determine a current primary pump health state and a current backup pump health state based on the detected water level and the detected pump parameter.
8 . The sump pump system of claim 1 ,
further including a user input/output module, the user input/output module operable to communicate with a user;
wherein the processor is operable to determine at least one of a water level and a water level state and to send a signal to the user input/output module indicating at least one of the water level and the water level state;
the water level includes at least one of an absolute water level detected by the water level sensor and a relative water level assigned by the processor based on the absolute water level;
the water level state includes at least one of a water level state assigned by the processor based on the absolute water level and a water level state assigned by the processor based on the relative water level; and
wherein the user input/output module is operable to receive the signal from the processor indicating at least one of the water level and the water level state and display a notification to a user indicating at least one of the water level and the water level state.
9 . The sump pump system of claim 1 ,
further including a pump, the pump operable to remove water from the sump.
10 . A sump pump system comprising:
a water level sensor, the water level sensor operable to detect a level of water in a sump;
a pump parameter sensor, the pump parameter sensor operable to detect a parameter relating to operation of a pump; and
a processor, the processor operable to communicate with each of the water level sensor and the pump parameter sensor;
wherein the water level sensor is operable to detect the level of water in the sump and to send a signal to the processor indicating the detected water level;
wherein the pump parameter sensor is operable to detect the parameter relating to operation of the pump and to send a signal to the processor indicating the detected pump parameter;
wherein the processor is operable to receive the signal from the water level sensor indicating the detected water level and the signal from the pump parameter sensor indicating the detected pump parameter; and
wherein the processor is operable to determine a parameter relating to operation of the sump pump system based on the detected water level and the detected pump parameter.
11 . The sump pump system of claim 10 , wherein:
the processor is operable to determine at least one of the following parameters relating to operation of the sump pump system: a water level state, a primary pump running state, a water level direction, a fill rate compare, a last primary pump health state, a last backup pump health state, a current primary pump health state, a current backup pump health state, and a flood risk.
12 . The sump pump system of claim 10 , wherein:
the pump parameter sensor is a pump current sensor; and
the pump current sensor is operable to determine whether current is flowing to the pump.
13 . The sump pump system of claim 10 , wherein:
the processor is operable to determine the amount of water removed by a primary pump and the amount of water removed by a backup pump.
14 . The sump pump system of claim 13 , wherein:
the processor determines the amount of water removed by the primary pump and the amount of water removed by the backup pump by comparing the water level and the pump parameter over time.
15 . A sump pump system comprising:
a water level sensor, the water level sensor operable to detect a level of water in a sump; and
a processor, the processor operable to communicate with the water level sensor;
wherein the water level sensor is operable to detect the level of water in the sump and to send a signal to the processor indicating the detected water level;
wherein the processor is operable to receive the signal from the water level sensor indicating the detected water level; and
wherein the processor is operable to determine a parameter relating to operation of the sump pump system based on the detected water level.
16 . The sump pump system of claim 15 , wherein:
the processor is operable to prevent a primary pump from operating; and
the processor is operable to determine if a backup pump has failed based on the detected water level.
17 . The sump pump system of claim 15 , wherein:
the processor is operable to prevent a primary pump from operating; and
the processor is operable to determine a health state of a backup pump based on the detected water level.
18 . The sump pump system of claim 15 , wherein:
the processor is operable to determine whether the water level sensor was properly installed.
19 . The sump pump system of claim 18 , wherein:
the processor determines whether the water level sensor was properly installed by comparing the water level over time.
20 . The sump pump system of claim 15 , wherein:
the processor is operable to determine whether a check valve was properly installed in a discharge pipe and is properly functioning.
21 . The sump pump system of claim 20 , wherein:
the processor determines whether the check valve was properly installed and is properly functioning by comparing the water level over time.