What should i check if the bilge pump float switch sticks?

[Noah95]

I was checking the bilge on my old Cobalt and noticed the float switch for the automatic bilge pump seems to be sticking sometimes. I'm just not sure if a failed switch would let the pump run dry and burn out, or if it just won't trigger when it should.

[BrianG]

Yep, that sounds familiar. The float would stick and the bilge pump would fire off and on, and I worried about running the battery down or burning it. I ended up replacing the switch after a couple incidents.

[Scarlett_W]

I’ve learned that a stuck ON switch is rough but not the end of the world; most pumps have some thermal protection, so a dry run won’t always toast it, but it can wear the impeller or seal over time.

[AlexanderB]

Could it be something else, like a loose connection or the float cable snagging on a stringer? I kept chasing the switch and never got a clean fix.

[Abigail_J]

When I got bored with the uncertainty, I replaced the whole pump with a new one and kept a spare switch; not glamorous, but it quieted the boat.