Sump Pump Drainage Systems: A Primer

Any homeowner with a basement understands the necessity of a sump pump drainage system. Unfortunately, many people who have moved from somewhere like Florida or California, where basements are rare, may not fully grasp the concept of what a sump pump does and how important it is to the overall integrity of your home.

Most sump pump drainage systems fall into one of two categories: The up-right style of sump pump, often called a "pedestal", is arguably the more popular version but the other main version, the submersible sump pump, has its own advantages as well. It is up to the individual, however, to decide which sump pump is truly for them.

The up-right sump pump drainage systems are referred to as such because of the fact that the motor that creates the drainage is placed atop the pump. A ball float, not unlike that which is seen in a toilet, will trigger the motor when too much water has filled the basement and this will tell the motor to begin sump pump drainage. The motor, then, stays dry above the water and therefore can't get wet and then ruined. This is an advantage for this style of pump but it can also spell doom is the ball float is somehow damaged and flooding occurs. Once that motor gets wet, you will more than likely need to buy a brand new sump pump.

The submersible sump pump drainage system is, as is evident by its name, mostly submerged under water. This version is usually a bit more expensive because the on-off switch and the motor are typically of a better quality, which is necessary since wetness will most definitely occur. Also, many of the submersible sump pumps don't use ball floats and instead use sealed, floating switches that also raise the price considerably. All the same, there is evidence to support the fact that submersible sump pumps are more dependable in many cases.

Naturally, buying an inferior version of any sump pump drainage system will spell doom. Purchasing a cheap pedestal pump with a flimsy ball float is as ill-advised as buying a submersible sump pump with an unwieldy cord that will inevitably entangle itself in the mechanism and possibly cause flooding. Thus, it is necessary to check the quality of the individual sump pump after you've decided on which genre of pump to purchase. Either way, it is important to make sure that the sump pump you buy, whether submersible or pedestal, has a check valve of some sort on the water pipe. This will ensure that there is no back flow of water whenever the sump pump shuts off. Any sump pump that doesn't have this feature should be avoided at all costs, as excessive back flow over time will cause a pump to work overtime and burn out long before its typical shelf life.