I can tell you that the day after a heavy rain, my sump pump will run every minute and sometimes even less for a couple days. There are weeks and maybe months that it doesn’t pump at all, but the rains we get in the spring or fall especially last for days sometimes, and I get very nervous when that sump pump works day and night. I’ve never had water in the basement so I suppose the pump is doing it’s job, but I know how you feel. Anyway, a dry basement is always better than even a slightly wet basement. I don’t think you wasted your money.

All water infiltration issues are best solved from the EXTERIOR. That is a preventative solution. You acceded to a reactive management solution that allows water inside your house, because it was the easy and cheap job. You still need to solve the actual water infiltration issue from the exterior and not allow water inside your home. The problem still exists, and is actually worse now.

I also live in IL. Our sump can run that often for a day or so. However, once it happened that the drain emptied too close to the house so the water just recycled! Make sure that you have a backup sump pump as well as a battery backup for both.