How Sump Pump Work?
The lowest part of the home popularly referred to as the basement is the target area for pooling water after mild or heavy rainfall. While it is evident that your house can be a lot of good things to you, things get out of hands quickly when you need to deal with the aftermath of flooding. If you don’t have a basement, then pooled basement water shouldn’t be a problem. But you should know about how Sump Pump work appropriately.
Sump pumps are heavy-duty machinery that comes in handy in displacing pooled underground water. The device helps to funnel away water to reduce dampness and increase the integrity of your basement. Not just this, it goes a long way in preventing the growth of mold and mildew and ultimately saves cost. This said, sump pumps are essential tools that homeowners should have around.
Types of Sump Pumps
To better understand how sump pump works, let us examine the different types of sump pumps that we have.
1. Submersible
This is perhaps the most popular type of the bunch and has gained notoriety for its flexible usage and quality performance. Submersible pumps, just like the name indicates, are installed underwater. What this means is that they can function while fully submerged.
This protects the pump from the dangers of surface installation; however, it makes servicing quite tricky. They are also less noisy to support quiet performance. For use in areas with low elevation or heavy rainfall, submersible pumps can get rid of thousands of gallons of water per hour.
Besides, since the pumps are installed underwater, it makes it easier to get rid of debris and clogging. On the downside, they are more expensive and have a short lifespan. A leak in the housing could also cause the motor to fail.
2. Pedestal
Pedestal sump pumps, unlike the submersible ones, are installed above the water level on a sump pit. An extension shaft, however, reaches down into the pit for adequate water drainage. One of the fascinating advantages of the pedestal pump is that it permits easy access to the motor.
They also come in handy when you need to save space in a small pit that a submersible pump cannot fit. Since the motor is mounted dry and high on a shaft, repair and maintenance are relatively more straightforward than in submersible pumps. The device comes with a vertical float switch that is located inside the pit.
Nevertheless, they are less powered compared to their submersible counterpart. They are also noisier since they are outside in contrast to the submersible ones. On the right side, motor damage is unlikely since they are not submerged. Hence they have a longer lifespan of about 25 years.
3. Battery Powered
Battery powered sump pumps come in handy as an alternative source of getting water out of the basement during power outages. This is because, besides having an electric power source, the pumps come with a backup battery during outages. Like the submersible ones, this type of pump can be submerged to fit smaller pits.
However, they are less potent than most pumps do enough to keep water out of your basement when the lights are out. Most battery powered sump pump comes with an alert system that notifies homeowners when they are activated.
4. Water Powered
Water powered sump pumps like the battery powered types do not run on electricity as the primary power source. Instead, it converts water pressure from the water source to create a channel for emptying water. For the best result, there must be sufficient water pressure, preferably from the town or city water source and not well water.
Since they do not use electricity and comes with no motor and few moving parts, they require little maintenance. However, bear in mind that you carry the cost incurred in creating water pressure by your local water authorities. On the upside, since they are designed as a secondary sump pump in case the light goes off, the extra charge on the water bill is bearable.
Sump Pump and Power Rating
On average, sump pumps come with ½ and 1/3 horsepower. Horsepower refers to how much power your pump motor packs. In essence, the more power the pump has, the more efficient it is at moving water.
If you need to move water across higher and farther distances, then you need a sump pump with a powerful motor. A 1/3 HP pump is adequate for moving water across short distances. However, if you need to move water through long distances or your pump fills quickly, you should look towards the ½ HP or higher.
The Float Switch
Understanding the float switch is crucial to learning the way sump pump works. The sump pump float switch acts as a sensor that alerts the pump to the falling and rising water levels in the pit. It carries out this operation by monitoring the pit for a change in the water level. When the water level increases, for instance, the float switch opens a circuit that makes it possible to pump water out of your basement.
Similarly, when the water level decreases, the circuit closes, and the float rests in the pit without pumping until the level rises again. Float switches are most desired because they allow a hands-off approach to water removal.
To put in simpler terms, the float switch is that tiny ball that activates and deactivates your pump in response to the water level in the pit. Like a beach ball that floats, the device makes use of a round float ball that floats on water. This way, the float rises with the water level.
When the water is high enough, a switch in the float closes and switches on the pump. In contrast, when the water level is too low, the same mechanism at work deactivates the pump. There is also the pressure sensor that works like the float activator.
How the Float Fails
The switch could fail for a couple of reasons, and it includes old age, over usage, power failure, and stuck float switch. When the switch is unable to rise or fall with the water level, it could often result in float failure.
A power failure could also paralyze your pump’s ability to get rid of water. It could also be due to old age, as this can cause it to give out while the pump is still on. This causes the pump to keep running until it burns out.
The Technicalities
The pump is usually placed in a gravel-based hole, commonly referred to as a sump pit. The hole should be about 18 inches wide and 2 feet deep. It should also be located in the lowest part of the basement. There should also be connected pipes that move water away to where you want it to be drained.
In most cases, the pipe comes with a check valve that prevents water from flowing backward into the pit. Using centrifugal force, an impeller spins and forces water to the side of the pipe by creating a low-pressure area at the centre.
How Sump Pump Work? Video Overview
Conclusion
Sump pumps are available in manual and automatic forms. To protect your property from flooding, sump pumps could be the solution for your water need.
