What is a Sump Pump? Learn everything about Sump Pump

A sump pump is an automated machine that removes excessive water piled in the sump basin. Helps in eliminating water that overflows in the basements.

The common type of material used in a sump pump is plastic. It also comes in cast iron, aluminium and stainless steel. That directly configures the price and longevity of the sump pump.

The sump pump comes with a floor drain, water level alarm, floating switch and a pump stand. Newer sump pumps are more efficient in terms of excluding excessive water.

Stainless steel sump pump lasts longer than any other type as it is rust-free and durable. Stainless steel sump pumps cost more than the usual sump pumps because of their long-lasting properties.

A cast iron sump pump is also a good option depending on how much water you want to exclude through the pump.

The history of the sump pump dates back to 1946, when U.S. Navy electrician Karl Niedermeyer invented the first sump pump. He worked with his father in his motor shop when he first came to know about the problem of drainage in lower areas.

He then manufactured a battery backup machine that could suck water out.

What is the ideal material for a Sump Pump?

The ideal material for a sump pump is stainless steel. Stainless steel is preferred because it lasts longer and is more durable than other materials like plastic.

Stainless steel sump pumps cost more than the other types. The cheapest type of sump pump comes in plastic that doesn’t last long. The durability and longevity depend on the frequency of use of the sump pump.

Sump pumps placed in big houses or commercial buildings cost more because of their larger capacity for draining water.

People who care about environment may want to choose an ejector pump that drains the filthy water away from the population. For this, they need a pump with a large pipeline that can reach the existing sewage system.

What are the different types of the product?

There are four types of sump pumps.

Submersible Sump Pumps: A submersible sump pump has a motor covered inside the waterproof body and drains a high amount of water without any damage to the motor.

Pedestal Sump Pumps: A pedestal sump pump has the motor mounted high on the iron road. The floating sensor drains water quickly with a risk of overheating it.

Battery Backup Sump Pump: A battery backup pump mainly works for the area where a power outage occurs because it gives the battery backup for these specific areas.

Combination Sump Pump: A combination sump pump provides electricity and battery backup. It combines the ordinary pump with a battery to double the functions of a sump pump.

What is the ideal size for a Sump Pump?

The ideal sump pump size depends on how much water you want to drain. Sump pump works different for residential and commercial purpose. More water discharge will need a good motor and firm electricity connection.

What size sump pump do I need? It depends on the usage of sump pump. First you need to check, during heavy rain how much water can accumulate in sump basin in 60 seconds.

Normally a good sump pump extracts 20 gallons of water in 3 minutes. If you live in flood areas than you should consider a combination sump pump that comes with a battery backup to discharge more water without the fear of electricity outage.

You also want to consider the power of the sump pump. Normally a sump pump uses 115 Volts of electricity that sums up to 10kWh/month. With larger machine comes more consumption of electricity that may accumulates to 30-40 kWh/month.

In case, it stops after heavy working, you can reset the sump pump and it can be back to work in most cases.

What are the use cases of a Sump Pump?

A use case of a sump pump can be described as a specific way you can use it in your house or commercially. Some of its use cases include.

• Draining excessive water
• Removes flood water
• Alarms the blockage of water in the basement
• Protect your house and office from future storms

Once you have installed a sump pump, you will know more use cases of this machine.

What type of battery is used in the sump pump?

A deep cycle lead-acid battery is used in sump pumps for backup. These batteries are called marine batteries rated in terms of ampere-hours.

What kind of pipe to use for sump pump discharge?

A plastic pipe of 2-3 feet wide should be used for sump pump discharge, and for adding more vulnerability, the pipe should be underground and discharge the water away from your house.

Do sump pumps use a lot of electricity?

No, the sump pump uses less electricity when it discharges the water. Usually, it uses 10kWh of electricity per month.

What are the best Sump Pump brands?

The best sump pumps so far are:

Best overall sump pump: Wayne

Best value sump pump: Superior

Best cost-friendly sump pump: Amazon Commercial

Best Submersible sump pump: Zoeller

What is the lifespan of a Sump Pump?

The typical sump pump lasts between 8-10 years. You might have to replace the sump pump after this period. It depends upon the initial purchase decision. Also, by keeping up the maintenance and routine checkup, the average lifespan of the sump pump can be increased.

The factor on which the lifespan of a sump pump depends:

• Initial Purchase
• Usage
• Maintenance
• Electricity support

The average sump pump costs $400-$1600, which includes the installation. The sump pump, excluding more water, has high horse powers and will cost even more.

How does culture affect the usage of Sump Pump?

The sump pump took off in most houses just after its invention. People now find it easy to remove water from their basements. It became a common machine in the flood area.

A house that is lower than sea level faces a major problem of water accumulation in their house. The sump pump made this discharging of water easier than before.

A sump pump is used in many countries with different uses. People who live in low areas put the sump pump in their basement to get rid of water accumulation, while some use it to remove excess water from their pools.

What are the relevant tools to a Sump Pump?

Sewage pump: It uses electricity and is responsible for discharging the solid waste material from the pipe, while the sump pump removes the excessive water.

Effluent pump: This pump uses a high head to move water from septic tanks. It is designed so that it only detects water from tanks. Mostly used to provide clean water to filthy areas.

Combination Pump: A combination pump uses both electricity and battery to operate. It mainly benefits the house where electricity outrage is the main problem.

What are the features of a superior Sump Pump?

Here are the few features of a superior sump pump:

Automatic switch: The switch turns on the sump pump when the water level rises to an alarming position.

Stainless steel: It prevents the sump pump from corrosion and increases its durability.

Style: With many styles available in the market you should choose the one that suits you best. Depending on how much water you want to discharge.

Strainer basket: It prevents clogs or debris from piling up in the sump pump.

Check valve: It blocks the water from entering the sump pit.

Battery backup: It works best for the area with an electricity outage.

What are the parts of a Sump Pump?

Parts of a sump pump include:

Motor: it provides the sump pump with power.

Floating Switch: Gives alarm when the water rises to a dangerous level.

Discharge pipe: It is the pipeline form where all the accumulated water discharges.

Pump stand: A pedestal stand allows the sump pump to rest while preventing any small objects from entering the sump pit.

Sump liner: Sump pumps are packed with a durable, airtight lid and a sump liner that prevents debris from clogging the sump pit.

How did Sump Pump get its name?

It is not explained where the name sump pump came from. But we know that a sump means a pit or hollow that collects liquid, especially used in caves and holes. Different countries have different names for this machine. It is also called an ejector or sewage pump in some countries.

What is the history of a Sump Pump?

The first machine for discharging flood water was invented by Russian Armais Sergeevich Arutunoff in the late 1800s and was called the ‘electric submersible pump’.

But it was a big device and used more energy for moving water to safe passage. Also, the pipelines used for discharging water were not durable.

Then in late 1946, the first sump pump was invented by Karl Neidermeyer, a U.S. navy person. Again it was a large machine and mainly discharged water from the sinking boats and ships.

Later many inventors kept on working to produce new models, each making it useful for houses and offices.

It was a costly device, and every household could not purchase it. Many versions of a sump pump followed through the passing years. All efforts were made to invent the compact household machine.

With time the machine upgraded in terms of working and was more durable than before.

Different technologies were implemented to formulate an efficient design and by the end of 2000 sump pump became the popular item for any house or office below sea level.