| Sump pumps come in all sizes, powers, and | | | | dealing with high water volume, to spread the load |
| performance levels to fit the need of the water | | | | out to multiple pumps. That way if one pump dies |
| flow underneath your basement floor or septic | | | | another one can take the new load. |
| systems. There are some important features | | | | Submersible vs. Utility |
| that many homeowners don't take advantage of | | | | Submersible pump, as you can tell by the name, |
| and many distinguishing features of sump pumps | | | | are designed to be 100% totally submerged in |
| that many DIY-ers don't fully understand (which | | | | water or septic. They are typically more ruggedly |
| leads to bad choices and epic system failures). | | | | designed and tend to include more features to |
| Pump Strength - how a pump is measured | | | | help control the pump such as a float switch or |
| Pumps are measured by the amount of water a | | | | bob. Utility pumps are more "plug in and go." |
| pump can push out of a 1-1/2 inch PVC discharge | | | | These can be helpful for pumping out areas |
| line. Most pumps, if you purchase them from a | | | | you're working in and are probably more common |
| store or a waterproofing company will have | | | | in the mining and tunneling industries. |
| what's known as a Flow Chart which compares, | | | | Battery Back up vs. AC power |
| on a graph, the Gallons Per Minute (GPM) with the | | | | Not all sump pumps can be battery back up |
| Feet of discharge line. | | | | pumps. This is a common misconception for many |
| The following line is then used to describe the | | | | DIYers. Simply attaching a battery to a pump |
| amount of flow that a pump could provide: "X | | | | doesn't give you a "battery back up" and here's |
| gpm at 10' head." This statement simply states | | | | why. Many batteries back up sump pumps come |
| that X gallons can be pumped out of a discharge | | | | with specially designed batteries that are |
| line 10 feet tall in 1 minute. 10' is an average height | | | | manufactured to put out the specific amps that |
| of any discharge line starting at 2' below your | | | | the pump is designed to handle. The cords that |
| basement floor to the top of an 8' foundation wall. | | | | make the connections to the pump and battery |
| 2+8 = 10, giving you a 10' head height. This is the | | | | are designed for this exchange as well. Taking a |
| standard measurement of pumps strength. | | | | car battery and hooking it up to an AC pump to |
| Be aware when you're buying a pump that the | | | | attempt to build your own "battery back up" is a |
| previous statement mentions 10 feet of head, | | | | receipt for disaster. |
| sometimes pumps rate themselves for "3000 | | | | If you're looking for a battery back up sump |
| gpm at 0 head" which sounds impressive, but for | | | | pump make sure that you're buying just that. |
| all intensive purposes doesn't mean much. There's | | | | Professional basement waterproofing companies |
| hardly a situation where you'd simply plug a pump | | | | all over the world sell multiple versions of battery |
| in and not attach a discharge line. "3000 gpm at 0 | | | | back up sump pumps and those are typically the |
| head" means that the pump can pump 3000 | | | | better option available on the market. |
| gallons every minute when not attached to a | | | | Adjustable float switch vs. attached float switch |
| discharge line. Simply stating that amount of fluid | | | | Quite a few pumps on the market actually have |
| would just spill onto the floor and isn't a very | | | | the switch to activate them as part of the |
| useful measurement. | | | | pump's housing. A float switch is attached and will |
| Horse Power | | | | simply turn the pump on and off as the water |
| All sump pumps, whether in a waterproofing, | | | | level changes (much like the float switch in your |
| plumbing or septic application are motors. Each | | | | toilet tank). |
| motor is assigned a horsepower rating, just like a | | | | Many companies have started to opt for |
| car engine would be. Typically the more Horse | | | | Adjustable float switches that the pump plugs |
| Power the greater pumping capacity. Most pumps | | | | into. The switch is totally separate from the pump |
| come in 3 sizes, 1/3 hp, ½ hp and 1 hp. | | | | and just allows power to reach the pump as the |
| There are pumps that are less and more then | | | | switch is activated. Many companies have found |
| those, but for residential or commercial | | | | this new version of technology helpful in that it |
| applications there are few situations that you | | | | limits the amount of pump failures due to switch |
| would run into a continuous need for a 2, 3, or | | | | failure. Switches can be replaced without servicing |
| 1000 HP motor in a sump pump. | | | | the pump or totally replacing it. Adjustable float |
| If you have a high water flow volume under your | | | | switches will also allow you to control the amount |
| basement, or around your basement and you're | | | | that the pump turns on by simply installing it at |
| thinking that one 1HP pump will be adequate, | | | | the height of the water you with to engage the |
| pause for a moment. If that 1 pump dies, that | | | | pump at. |
| flow of water can build up. It's better, when | | | | |