mrgolf's sump pump fix?

Seems to me there is an easy fix to you having to run out there every few hours to clean, turn on, or turn off the pump.

Pick yourself up a five gallon pail with lid from Home Depot. Then proceed to drill at least 10 half inch holes in the bottom, and roughly 30 (40 would be better) of the same size holes around the bucket itself. Cut a notch in the lid for the cord, and another circular notch for the outlet hose. Try to keep these two notches as tight as possible, so as to not to let debris actually fall into the bucket. Lower bucket into the water and test. If the bucket does not clog (which I don't think it will) then proceed to hook a timer to it or just turn on and off as necessary.

If one can be found with a lid, that is bigger than five gallons, all the better.

Thanks Frank. I'm going to give it a try