Sump Pump Smart Automation

I live in a climate where it will rain 2 inches one day and hard-freeze the next. This happened the other day and my sump pump kept running well after the freeze set in. Since my sump pump drains to the street, this caused a huge sheet of ice to form in the street. My neighbors were not happy. My goals with this project:

1. Create a smart sensor that will only turn on my sump pump if the sump basin gets "too full".
2. Don't flood my recently renovated basement!
3. Try to do it for fairly cheap-o.

1. (1) 2"x16" PVC pipe
2. (1) 3/4"x2" PVC pipe
3. (2) 3/4" PVC plug2
4. (1) SmartThings Multipurpose Sensor
5. (1) SmartThings outlet
6. (1) 3.27 x 3.19 x 2.20 inch Waterproof Dustproof ABS Plastic Electrical Box
7. Some electrical tape
8. Some water-tight PVC adhesive
9. A power drill with 1/4" bit
10. Some twist-ties

I did not end up using the Plastic Hanger Strap or Plumber's tape (as seen in the picture).

Drill some holes through the large PVC pipe. This will allow water to have more routes into the pipe (instead of getting in only through the bottom).

If there are any burrs of PVC inside the pipe, be sure to scrape them out. If you don't, the float (step 2) might catch... rendering your sensor unable to do its job.

1. Use the water-tight glue to seal one of the 3/4" PVC plugs into the 3/4"x2" PVC pipe.
2. After it dries, drop the magnetic piece of the multipurpose sensor into the 3/4" pipe.
3. Wrap some black tape around the threads of the second plug (or use more glue if you prefer) and seal up the "float".

1. Secure the multipurpose sensor inside of the waterproof box and close the box.
2. I used electrical tape to secure the box to the pipe - be sure to attach the box to the pipe at the place where you want the water level to be when you want the sump pump to turn on.
3. I also used some twist-ties to make a criss-cross pattern in the holes at the opposite end of the PVC to make retrieving the float easier if I ever need to take this apparatus out (for example, to change the battery in the sensor).

1. Put the float into the 16" PVC pipe.
2. I was fortunate that my PVC was the same length as my sump basin so I wedged the 16" PVC pipe between the floor and the lid of the basin.
3. Plug the sump pump into the smart outlet.

In my SmartThings app, I named my sensor "Sump Sensor" and the smart outlet "Sump Pump" then set up an automation: If "Sump Sensor" is closed then turn "Sump Pump" on + send me a message.

As the water level in the sump basin (and therefore in the 16" PVC pipe) rises, the float will go up. Once the float reaches the sensor, the SmartThings automation will turn on the sump pump and send me a message. I'll come sprinting down the stairs to make sure my basement doesn't flood!

Once winter is over, I'll remove the apparatus and let the sump pump do its job without the automation - this is just a winter precaution.