Information On Sump Pumps

A sump pump is a pump used for drainage that removes accumulated water from a sump pit. A sump pit, commonly found in the home basement, is simply a hole dug in the ground to collect water. The water may enter via perimeter drains funneling into the pit, or may arrive from natural ground water in the earth.

Sump pumps are installed particularly where basement flooding is seen as a problem, but are also used to ameliorate dampness by lowering the water table under the foundation. They pipe water away from the house to any place where it no longer presents a hazard, such as a municipal storm drain or dry well. Older properties may have their sump pumps connected to the sanitary sewer, but this is frowned upon now (and may be against the plumbing code) because it can overwhelm the municipal sewage treatment system. Though in some cases, a sump pump is used when a lower floor is below the sewer lines, to pump greywater waste from that floor to the lines.

Sump pumps are usually hardwired into a home's electrical system, and may have a battery backup. Some even use the home's pressurized water supply to power the pump, eliminating the need for electricity.

There are generally two types of sump pumps: pedestal and submersible. The pedestal pump's motor is mounted above the pit, where it is more easily serviced but also more conspicuous. The submersible pump is entirely mounted inside the pit, and is specially sealed to prevent electrical short circuits.

Components:

Modern sump pump components in the United States are standardized. They consist of:

    * A plastic or metal canister forming a sump liner, approximately 2 feet (0.6 m) across and 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 1 m) deep, 15 to 25 US gallons (60 to 100 L);
    * A sump pump, either 1/3 or 1/2 horsepower (200 or 400 W), either battery or electrically powered (or both);
    * A set of pipes, typically 1.5 inch (38 mm) PVC, that are routed from the pump, through a check valve, and out of the house;
    * A check valve that allows water to flow up and out through the pipes, so when the pump turns off the water in the pipes doesn't flow backwards back into the sump;
    * A sump cover so that mice, cats, etc., don't fall into the sump and drown;
    * Optionally, some homes (especially ones with finished basements) have a secondary battery-powered sump pump in case the first pump fails. Setting up a battery backed-up secondary pump involves purchasing and installing the following components in parallel with the above others:
    * A battery-driven 12 V sump pump with its own water level sensor, piping, and check valve (since check valves fail)(the pipes usually join after the check valves);
    * A typical lead-acid car battery (may alternately be a marine deep cycle battery but these are more expensive);
    * A typical trickle-charge car battery charger available at any automobile parts store.

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