How Does a Sump Pump Work?

A sump pump is a must have in you live in a home that has a basement in a flood prone area. Nothing is worse than having a flooded basement every time it rains. Water left standing in a basement can do structural damage to the floor and walls. More importantly, it can become a health hazard for your family. Mold and mildew love to grow in damp places, not to mention the attraction for bugs and other creatures. These creatures may carry disease or just scare the living daylights out of you. In this article we will try to answer the question of "How does a sump pump work?"

There are two main types of sump pumps. The first one we will look at is called a pedestal pump. This is a motor that is mounted on a small pedestal. A pipe goes from the motor down to the bottom of the sump pit. A float is attached to a separate metal rod that is connected to a switch on the pump. When the basement floods, the water will start to fill the sump pit. As the water rises, the float will rise until it gets high enough to switch on the sump pump. Water is then sucked up through the pipe and into another pipe or hose that leads to your septic system or sewer system. The pedestal sump pump motor is not designed to be under water.

The second type of sump pump is called a submersible pump. This pump is just like it sounds. It is able to be submersed under water without doing damage to the unit. It does not have a connecting pipe that draws the water out, instead the water is filtered right through the bottom of the sump pump. There is an advantage to this because the bottom of the pump has a screen or filter that keeps out gravel or debris that could be sucked into the impeller of the pump. The impeller is the device that creates suction and if it becomes damaged, you have to replace your sump pump. A lot of pedestal pumps have been ruined by debris being sucked into the impeller. The submersible pump can have a hard plastic bubble that encases the electrical switch. As the water rises the bubble floats and when it gets to a level above the pump the switch kicks on and the pump starts to do it's work.

The sump pump is usually wired into the house's main electrical system. However, you should make sure that the pump has a backup power supply. This is usually a battery type system like the one found in your car. Basements usually flood in time of storms and other intense weather so it stands to reason that your electricity will probably be out if there is a major storm. Your sump pump needs to be able to work without the benefit of electricity to keep the basement from becoming flooded.

A sump pump is simply a motor that creates suction to draw water out of your basement. But it can be the best investment that you will make and possibly save you thousands in repairs.