How Sump Pumps Work



Posted: Wednesday, March 18, 2009

by Scott Rodgers
http://www.elocalplumbers.com

If your grandparents are alive, you might have heard from them how bad were the days when rainfalls came and left basements full of dirty water, stinking smells and growing algae. But luckily, we are now able to solve that problem using sump pumps. Typically, sump pits are dug into the basements and accompanied with sum pumps, which automatically drain out the water before it becomes a problem. Whether you do the job yourself or get help from a plumber, this article will help you understand how sump pumps work.

If you let the water stand in the sump pit for long durations, it can grow algae and collect debris too, and may also promote some other unhygienic problems. So a sump pump is usually fitted or used to periodically drain the water out of the sump pit. While rainwater standing in the basement is the major problem that a sump pump solves, it is also helpful if water accumulates in the sump pit because of any other reason like a higher water table in the surroundings.

The sump pump takes water in and then pushes it away at the other side of the pipe. While dry wells or municipal storm drains are more ideal for dumping this dirty water, some old houses may have their pumps throwing water into the sewerage lines, which is usually prohibited by law as this can negatively affect the sewerage system. Now let's see how sump pumps work and what types are available.

Typical households have their sump pumps on auto-pilot by hardwiring them with the mains electric supply, so that the pumps start automatically whenever water inside the sump pit reaches a certain level. This is something you should do due to the possibility of water spilling out of the pit and flooding the basement. Because of this, a backup generator is used so that the sump pump will work even if your electricity goes out.

Sump pumps are available in two types: submersible and pedestal. Submersible sump pumps are shorter in height (around 12 inches) and are mounted into the bottom of the sump pits. Some of these pumps come with a floating electrical switch that is enclosed in plastic and floats above the water. When water enters the pit and the water level rises, the electric switch also goes up and automatically turns on when it comes to a specific height. In pump systems that are under the water, water is pushed out from the bottom; some of the systems come with a grille or lid on top of the pump so that debris won't be able to enter and choke the system.

Pedestal sump pumps, on the other hand, are fitted on a pedestal and are usually 30 inches high. A pipe goes all the way to the bottom of the sump pit and is connected to a motor placed above the pit. The identical kind of switch is used to power on the pump; however, these get switched on before water comes closer to the motors as the motors are non waterproof and may get harmed if they come into contact with water.

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Scott Rodgers, like other qualified plumbers, has installed numerous sump pumps over the course of his career. To read more articles about sump pumps or to get yours installed, check out http://www.eLocalPlumbers.com

Scott Rodgers is an experienced plumbing professional who has installed

countless sump pumps.For more articles

on the subject or to have someone like him install a sump pump for you, just

visit http://www.eLocalPlumbers.com

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