| What Factors Should Be Reviewed? | | | | heavy volumes of water. |
| There are eight major factors to consider when | | | | 6. Protection Against Debris, Sludge, or Spherical |
| comparing sump pumps: mechanism causing the | | | | Solids |
| sump pump to operate, material used in | | | | - Most pump cages are built with a cage bottom |
| construction, operational capability, dimensions, size | | | | that concaves causing particles to run off. |
| of discharge, protection against spherical solids or | | | | - The capacity to handle spherical solids varies by |
| sludge, energy consumption and manufacturer's | | | | pump: ¼ inch to ½ inch. |
| warranty. | | | | 7. Energy Consumption |
| 1. Mechanisms Causing the Sump Pump to | | | | - Some sump pumps are registered as energy |
| Operate | | | | efficient. |
| What Are the Different Types of Mechanisms? | | | | - Other manufactures are redesigning their pumps |
| Sump pumps operate when water triggers the | | | | to be more energy efficient. |
| mechanism that activates the pump. | | | | 8. Manufacturer's Warranty |
| - Tether floats hang freely from the side of the | | | | What Manufacturer's Warranties Exist? |
| pump. As the water raises so does the float | | | | - No warranty |
| which triggers a switch that activates the pump. | | | | - One to five years |
| When the water level drops the float lowers to | | | | - Lifetime limited |
| the side of the pump. | | | | - Full lifetime |
| - Vertical floats have a ball that moves up and | | | | What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of |
| down on a vertical rod. As the water surrounding | | | | a Warranty? |
| the pump raises, the float also raises and triggers | | | | - No warranty may mean manufactures are very |
| the switch and hence activates the pump. When | | | | confident of their product's quality. |
| the water level lowers the ball lowers. | | | | - The purchase price of the pump may be higher |
| - A diaphragm is a membrane, located on a drum | | | | because the cost of a warranty is included. |
| shaped mechanism on the side of the pump, | | | | - Limited warranties will not pay the entire cost to |
| which is sensitive to water pressure. As the | | | | fix or replace faulty parts. |
| water level raises, the water pressure increases | | | | - The length of warranty is usually based on the |
| and the diaphragm becomes concave, thereby | | | | length of time most of the pumps are known to |
| activating the switch to turn on the sump pump. | | | | operate without failure. |
| When the water level drops, the switch turns off. | | | | - Lifetime warranties indicate the company is |
| - A probe is sensitive to water pressure and the | | | | confident of how long the pump will function |
| pump is activated electronically. | | | | without failure. |
| What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of | | | | How Can You Determine Which Sump Pump is |
| the Different Mechanisms? | | | | Best for You? |
| - The tether float gets obstructed from | | | | The following situations are provided to help you |
| movement easier; the switches require more | | | | make your decision. |
| frequent replacement, however, the pump is | | | | A. Do you have a sump pit diameter under or |
| cheaper. | | | | over 12"? |
| - The vertical float is protected against | | | | - The Basement Watchdog sump pump |
| obstruction of movement; the switch requires | | | | regardless of HP is the smallest pump in width (6 |
| more frequent replacement than a diaphragm or | | | | to 7"). |
| probe but less than the tether float. Some brands | | | | - If the pit diameter is under 12", the Simer 1/3 |
| offer the ability to change the switch without | | | | HP and Little Giant 1/3 HP will fit. |
| removing the sump pump fom the pit. | | | | - If the pit diameter is 18", you have most |
| - A diaphragm and probe are very dependable | | | | flexibility in model selection. B. Does your sump pit |
| and require less service. 2. Materials Used in the | | | | get much water during heavy rains? |
| Construction of Sump Pumps | | | | - If not, a 1/3 HP will be sufficient. |
| What Are the Different Materials Used? | | | | - If yes, a 3/4 HP is recommended. C. Do you |
| - Thermoplastic: Outer casing is made of a hard, | | | | want to exchange a faulty float/switch |
| durable plastic. | | | | mechanism without having to remove the entire |
| - Cast iron and stainless steel or cast iron and | | | | pump from the sump pit? |
| cast aluminum: The outer casing and bolts are | | | | - The Basement Watchdog sump pump float |
| made of metal. | | | | switch mechanism is attached to the discharge |
| What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of | | | | pipe thus by unclamping it you can raise it up, |
| the Different Materials? | | | | exchange the faulty switch, lower the cage into |
| - Plastic weighs less and is cheaper. | | | | the pit and clamp in onto the discharge pipe. D. Do |
| - Cast iron, stainless steel and cast aluminum last | | | | you get a lot of heavy rain casing your sump |
| a lifetime, weigh more and are constructed to | | | | pump to run continuously for hours? |
| handle heavy duty usage. This material is more | | | | - The larger horse powered models (3/4 HP) are |
| expensive. | | | | built for continuous operation. This includes |
| 3. Operational Capacity | | | | Basement Watchdog, Flotec, Little Giant's Big John |
| What Are the Volumes at Which Pumps Can | | | | and Wayne. E. Is sump pump durability important? |
| Discharge Water? | | | | - The 3/4 HP pumps for Flotec and Wayne have |
| - Generally the higher the horse power (HP) the | | | | full lifetime warranty. |
| greater the volume of water that can be moved | | | | - The 3/4 HP pump for Simer have a limited |
| per minute (or per hour) at a specific height. | | | | lifetime warranty. |
| - HP ranges from ¼, 1/3, 4/10, ½, | | | | - Little Giant pumps have no warranty. |
| and ¾. | | | | - The pumps under 3/4 HP have warranties |
| What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of | | | | varying from one to five years. F. Is float switch |
| HP Capability? | | | | failure of concern? |
| - High horse powered pumps keep up with heavy | | | | - The Little John IntelliSwitch diaphragm, and the |
| flow of water into the pit. | | | | Wayne Switch Genius are the longer lasting switch |
| - Low horse powered pumps use less electricity. | | | | types. The Basement Watchdog has two |
| 4. Dimensions of Sump Pump and Pit | | | | switches so if one fails the other one begins |
| - Each sump pump has unique measurements. | | | | operating. G. Is energy consumption of concern? |
| - A sump pit with an 18"diameter basin or larger | | | | - To date, the Basement Watchdog uses the |
| provides the greatest flexibility in selecting a sump | | | | least amount with only 3 to 4 amps depending |
| pump. | | | | upon the amount of HP. H. Are you concerned |
| - A tether float requires a larger diameter-based | | | | about sump pump switch failure and have an 18" |
| pit than a vertical float or diaphragm pump. | | | | diameter pit or larger? |
| 5. Size of Discharge Port Diameter | | | | - Installing two sump pumps will provide added |
| What Are the Different Sizes? | | | | peace of mind. Two Basement Wasthdogs would |
| - Some are garden hose or 1 ¼ inches in | | | | fit. That would provide four operating switches |
| diameter. | | | | with three years warranty per pump. |
| - The standard size is 1 ½ inches in | | | | - One 3/4 HP Flotec or Simer with one Basement |
| diameter. | | | | Watchdog would fit.The Flotec and Simer offer |
| What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of | | | | lifetime warranties. The Basement Watchdog has |
| the Different Sizes? | | | | two switches and you don't have to remove the |
| - The smaller the discharge port diameter the | | | | pump from the pit to change them as you would |
| smaller HP the pump should be. | | | | with other pumps. |
| - A size of 1 ½ inches is required to handle | | | | |