Buying and Maintaining Sump Pumps and Basement Sump Pump Systems

Basement flooding is a common problem, particularly in houses situated where rain and snow melt have little chance for runoff. When the ground becomes saturated like a sponge the ground water builds pressure, forcing water towards any path of little resistance. If the water finds cracks and fissures in your foundation walls or floors, it easily seeps in to fill your basement. The answer to this problem is a sump pump system.

A sump pump system consists of three main parts, the foundation drain, the sump pit and the sump pump. Sump pumps have been keeping basement from becoming a pond in many parts of the country for years. They were first used on the Eastern seaboard and Great Lakes areas but as cities and suburbs have grown, so have water-runoff and discharge problems. Now sump pumps are common wherever basement flooding occurs. In fact, communities now require a basement sump pump in all new homes where a basement or other underground structure needs to be protected from ground water infiltration.

First decide between a pedestal and submersible pump. A submersible is quieter than a pedestal pump as the water surrounding the pump helps to cover up any noise made by the pump, an important advantage if the basement is used as a primary living area. All sump pumps are going to make some noise due to the fact that any time water is moved through piping pushing air out of the way noise is created. The type, style and location of the check valve can also determine how loud or quite a pump system will be.

Because submersibles sit in water a good deal of the time, they have a life span averaging from 10 to 15 years. Pedestal pumps may continue to operate for as long as 20 or 25 years under ideal conditions. Because so many factors in a pump's life related to the conditions, frequency of its use, pump size and discharge rate most manufacturers offer a 1 or 2-year limited warranty.

Heat can also be a factor in the life span of a sump pump. Pedestal pumps are air cooled as the motor is above the water line and submersible pumps are cooled from the rain water entering the sump pit. Some pump manufacturers also fill the body of the pump with oil to help dissipate heat from the motor inside the pump to the outer casing of the pump. Also having oil in the pump casing also helps to lubricate the motor helping to ensure a longer life for the pump.  Pedestal pumps cannot be installed in a sump pit that has a sealed and vented cover whereas a submersible pumps can be installed in a sealed and vented sump pit.

Sump pits should be sealed and vented to prevent the possibility of Radon gas from escaping into the home. Radon gas is a naturally occurring gas from deep in the earth that filters through the dirt under a home. Radon gas in one of the leading causes of cancer in the united states. There are also two main types of automatic switches for sump pumps float switches and diaphragm switches. A float switch floats on the water and as the water level rises it activates the pump motor to turn on or off as the water level drops. A diaphragm switch uses water pressure to turn a pump on or off, just as placing a plastic bag over your hand and then inserting your hand into a bucket or tub of water, the pressure of the water forces the bag to conform to your hand that same pressure is used to turn the sump pump on and off.

Pumps are rated on a unit's strength measured in gallons per minute of discharge and lift (often referred to as “head”) of water, brand of the pump and warranty of the pump. Almost without exception, the least expensive models are also the weakest. A sump pump is measured by horsepower (HP) and most pumps range from 1/6 to 1/2 or more in HP with the average home using a 1/3^rd to ½ HP pump.

The quality of the materials that make up a pump also affect price. Look for parts and housings that won't corrode or rot away from being in water, such as polypropylene or ABS plastic, stainless steel and paint coated cast iron housings are favorable and used in all grades of pumps. Be aware that light plastic pumps will vibrate and make more noise than a heavy cast iron or stainless steel pump. Plastic will also insulate the pump holding in the heat from the motor whereas a metal body pump will dissipate heat into the water of the sump pit faster protecting the pump motor.

Pay attention to the power cord's length, too as that can be a factor in buying a new sump pump. Extension cords should never be used with sump pumps because of the inherent danger of having an electrical connection that can fall into the water. Sump pumps can be ordered with longer power cords for different applications, but remember the shorter the power cord, the less voltage and amperage drop and also the less chance the cord itself will fall into the sump pit and get caught in the sump pump so try to size your pumps power cord accordingly. If your pumps cord is too long make sure to tie up the slack in the cord to prevent any problems.

Sump pumps should be connected to a single round dedicated outlet in the home to prevent anyone from unplugging the unit or plugging a 2^nd cord into the same outlet and tripping the circuit breaker or fuse. Remember if the sump pump does not have power it cannot run with the exception of battery or water powered back-up sump pumps, and Murphy’s law states if anything bad can go wrong it will at the worst possible time!

Last but not least one should think about the discharge pipe from your sump pump. You should always try to discharge the water from your sump pump as far away from your home as possible and preferably on a downhill slope away from your home. If your sump pump discharges right next to your foundation, that water will just end up draining down along your foundation wall and back into your foundation drain causing your pump to operate more than needed increasing your electric cost and shorting the lifespan of your pump.