Sump pump failure device

Abstract

Owners of sump pumps often have no way of identifying a sump pump is failing unless they are home to witness a failing sump pump in real-time. Current solutions to this issue rely on the use of expensive electronics to help alert the owner of a failing sump pump. The present disclosure offers an inexpensive solution to extend a time in which an owner can confirm the sump pump has failed or is about to fail. Namely, the present disclosure features a level indicator which retains some water in the event the water rises above a predetermined level.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of indicating a liquid has risen above a predetermined level without electronics comprising:
 locating the predetermined level by anticipating where an existence of liquid is problematic;   positioning a bucket with a closed bottom surface below where the existence of liquid is problematic yet above where the existence of liquid is to be ordinarily expected;   configuring the bucket to retain some of the liquid if the liquid rises above the predetermined level;   configuring the bucket with a liquid contact indicator which changes color upon contact with fluid captured in within a perimeter of the bucket; and   allowing for confirmation the bucket has, at least at one point in time, retained water based on the liquid contact indicator, thereby indicating the liquid rose above the predetermined level.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising configuring the bucket to have a sidewall enclosed on all sides, said sidewall having a depth and a perimeter traversing said depth, said perimeter comprising an arc and a chord, said arc and said chord being located within a common plane perpendicular to said depth. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the chord perimeter has a length equal to a minor segment of the arc. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the arc is a circular, major arc. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the perimeter further comprises parallel protrusions, said protrusions extending orthogonally from the chord toward the circular, major arc. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising configuring the bucket to include a fillet between the sidewall and the bottom surface. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising configuring the bucket to include a tab extending orthogonally from the perimeter beyond said depth, said tab configured to fasten the level indicator to another object. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the tab extends upwardly from the perimeter. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising configuring the bucket to include another tab extending downwardly and orthogonally from the perimeter beyond said depth. 
     
     
         10 . The level indicator of  claim 1 , further comprising producing the bucket with a three-dimensional printer and such that the bucket includes no electronics. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing an obstruction such that the bucket is viewable. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface is parallel with the perimeter. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein locating the predetermined level comprises:
 locating, on a pipe that carries at least some of the liquid from a sump positioned to collect the fluid from a first, elevated environment to a second, external environment, the predetermined level.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first, elevated environment is the basement of a home, and the second, external environment is a municipal storm drain, a dry well, or a sanitary sewer system.