Need help with overflow plumbing
 

Ive had my tank running for the past 3 years with the setup below. Ive never had it fail and it has generally worked well. Its running a stockman pipe. Its recently come to my attention that my setup may not exactly be "fail safe" and if the primary would become plugged for any reason (eg. snail) it would overflow. Im now worried that the tank may eventually overflow and I cant really have that happen. Any suggestions on how to make this setup with the current plumbing fail safe and silent? The back of the stand is enclosed with only a hole to access the one ball valve and changing the plumbing completely is not an option unless I empty the tank. which Id rather not completely. Any insight appreciated.

http://i43.tinypic.com/6eenh1.png

not sure i understand your drawing. those are both drain lines?

I am no expert, but if the stockman pipe (backup or failsafe) can handle the return flow of your return pump on its own, then I wouldn't think there is an issue, unless both plug. Now if either one plumbing, CAN'T handle the return flow on its own, then yes you would potentially have a problem.

But again, as I stated, I am no expert here.

If I completely turn the ball valve in the closed position imitating a clog the stockman can't handle the flow and will over flow.

As for the drawing. The red thing is the ball valve and the circle going into the sump is a bulkhead. The over flow is an external overflow. I ideally would want to use the Herbie method, but with the 2 lines joining into one this doesn't work. Not sure what I can do from here.

Yes, both drain lines.

what size plumbing are you using now?? you almost have a herbie set up now just needing the gate valve, you could also put a valve on your return and throttle it back so the stockman can keep up.

The plumbing for both is 1 inch. The herbie won't work as it's currently set up because the emergency makes noise because the primary meets up with it. I also do have a ball valve on the return. The stockman method is still too noisy for my liking so I'm trying to eliminate it. I think I may have to change the plumbing somehow so I can use the herbie

You could drill another hole into the overflow on the side and higher up, then plumb a 90 elbow into that bulkhead in the overflow....that way it would act as an emercency overflow if the main drain would become clogged. You would just run rigid line down to the sump and over the edge...no drilling of sump required...

are your overflows pipes glued in your overflow box?? iff not just remove the primary and the emergency and make it so the primary goes up just past half way and make your emergency about 2 " below your overflow box teeth that ways you can use your gateevalve to keep the water line high and thus no sound of water entering the overflow box.if they are glued then i would condider draing the overflow box and adding new pipes using unions or couplings:):)

your return is plumbed over the back oor closed loop??