I spent hours fucking with my sump pump last night, with multiple runs to the hardware store and I didn't really accomplish much. I had to return the pump I bought because it was missing the float and rod, but they didn't have another one, so I ended up getting a discount on it figuring I'd just use my old float and rod. Got it all set up with a new anti flow back valve, pvc instead of flex line and i put in a quick disconnect. Pulled my backup pump out, quickly cut the old lines and got drenched with about 5 gallons of ice cold water. Pulled the old pump, realized I forgot to put the old rod on the new pump and....it's too short, the new pump is about 3" taller. Umm.. waters coming up fast, so I throw in the backup pump, which immediately blows the circuit. Reset that, and then I tried to figure out the float situation. I go to move the old pump out of the way and large pieces of rust and sediment start falling off, so I start scraping it with a screwdriver and realize all the intake holes are plugged with crap. Clean them all out, pull the back up pump out, put this one in and VIOLA! it's working like a champ. Pumps the water down in about 30 mins and shuts off. Too bad all the connections are leaking like sieves now. So im headed back to swap this new pump for a smaller, and more importantly - less expensive, one and get some new lines and fittings to do it all right.
My best friend was busting my balls because I'm always talking about doing preventive maintenance to stop problems and how 5 mins worth of work would've saved me a weeks worth of headaches. Then i asked him was when the last time he did an oil change on his truck and he shut up, he's at least 18k over due