What Is A Sump Pump Used For?

A sump pump is an electronical pump that removes water from the basement of your house before it becomes a problem. It does so by sucking the water up that has collected in the sump pit (a low point basin underneath your basement where water flows to and collects) and pumping it away from your house.

Sump Pumps are thus used to fulfill an important function in your house: it keeps your basement dry and prevents most problems with mold and other mold related issues houses are prone to, by discharging water at a sufficient distance from your house. If you often have standing water in your basement, you may require a sump pump.

It may sound complicated and costly, but I assure you it’s not. Before buying a sump pump, there are certain things that you need to know.

Many homes have problems with flooding during heavy rains, but some may also have natural wetness problems that cause dampness. In both situations, a sump pump is a great solution.

How A Sump Pump Works

In essence, a sump pump is just a motor that pumps water from one place to another.

Every sump pump needs a constructed pit below the lowest part of the basement. Water flows to the lowest part and fills up. When the water reaches a certain level the sump pump is activated and sucks the water through a PVC pipe, keeping the basement dry.

In this PVC pipe, there’ll be a check valve that prevents water that has been pumped away, from flowing back down into your sump pit.

The water is moved to a special area. This area must be carefully selected, so it won’t push the water back in your basement or cause problems in your neighborhood. If the water is discharged too close to your home, you risk pumping the same water around and around, never really decreasing the water level underneath your house.

Many houses come with a system that catches the water around your house and concentrates it to your sump pump pit. Usually, a french drain is the setup. This is basically a trench filled with a gravel and a perforated pipe that allows water to flow into it. That way, water won’t creap up to your basement walls, but is simply redirected to where your sump pump is located so that it can be pumped away.

If your home does not yet have a sump pump pit, it may be best to call a handyman for installation, but if you are curious and like a challenge, you can do it yourself. Replacing an existing sump pump with a new one is something most homeowners are capable of doing themselves, with the instruction manual in hand. If you are going to be doing the installation, there are more things you should know.

The Sump Pit And Its Size

The sump pit is where you will place your sump pump. The size of the sump pit depends on the construction of your house and the sump pump you buy, but normally it should be 2 feet deep and 18 inches wide. When water moves into the sump pit, the pressure rises and activates the sump pump. Usually, sump pumps are activated by a pressure sensor or a float activator arm, like the one you have in your toilet.

What Are The Parts That Comprise a Sump Pump?

Sump pumps have 4 essential elements.

First, there’s a pump that is used for moving the water, then there’s a discharge pipe that serves as a channel for the water; a check valve that keeps the water from flowing back, and an activator.

Different models of sump pumps differ in the type of pump they use, and what kind of energy they use. The 2 most common models of sump pumps are the submersible pump and the pedestal pump.

Submersible And Pedestal Sump Pumps

A submersible pump is placed in the water and is covered by the water. The pump is at the bottom and the pipe is at the top. A pedestal pump is longer, its pump is out of the pit and the pipe is at the bottom. Submersible pumps are more expensive and quieter than the pedestal ones but are less durable. Pedestal pumps are more durable but noisy.

Sump pumps use centrifugal force for sucking the water. When the pump is activated, a motor turns on which creates a centrifugal force that pushes the water into the pipe. Pumps are usually powered by electricity, but that may be a problem sometimes because of the power outages during storms. That is why some pumps have a battery backup, you may want to consider this when buying a sump pump. Some pumps are activated by increased water pressure, but that costs a lot more, especially the water bill.

If you want to know more about the differences between these two archetype, you can reference our article ¨submersible versus pedestal sump pumps¨.

Maintenance Of Your Sump Pump

Like every machine, the sump pump needs to be maintained in working condition. Home-owners often forget about their pump altogether. Common problems are: switch is not working, the pump is not powered, the pipe is filled with sand or the sump pump reached its duration date.

You need to check your sump pump during the rainy season, make sure the pump is plugged safely, test to see if the switch works when the water level rises. Once you have a sump pump, maintenance is the key to a dry basement.

If you are obsessed with safety, there are accessories you can buy for your sump pump. The most common is a water alarm attachment. This is used as a fail-safe. If your sump pump is not working, the water alarm will signal you that there is a problem. The water alarm attachment may save you from flood damage. If your drainage point is too far away from your home, a discharge hose will solve your problem.

When buying a sump pump, you should consider every cost. The sump pit differs from house to house. It may cost you more if you need a more powerful sump pump. Calculate if you will need a discharge hose. Check with your local government for the cost of the permit.

Lastly, if you decide to do this yourself it will only cost you time. A plumber will cost you money, which may sound worse, but it’s usually more effective.

You should be ready now. Just in case, we will cover some uncommon problems.

Related Questions

Is there an alternative to sump pumps?

No, there is no way you can fully protect your basement without a sump pump of any kind. Water always finds a way to break out.

Does the size of the pipes matter?

The size of the pipes is crucial to a well-functioning sump pump. If your pipe is too big, water may flow back. Be sure to pay attention to this and calculate how big of a pipe you will need. Also, pay attention to how deep the discharge lines are, if not at the right depth, discharge lines may freeze.

When do I need to get a sump pump?

Only when you are having flooding problems or when you anticipate them. Check your basement for water and mold. If your home is naturally dry, you do not need a sump pump.