Sump pumps are employed to take out water that drains into sump pit or collection pit, to keep crawlspaces or basements free of water. The water may enter via the perimeter drains of a basement waterproofing system, funneling into the pit or because of rain or natural ground water, if the basement is below the water table level.

Sump pumps are used where basement flooding happens regularly and to cure dampness where the water table is above the foundation of a home. Sump pumps can drain the water to your storm drain or to an location away from the trouble space where it will drain naturally. Pumps may be connected to the sanitary sewer in older properties. Now, this practice may be against the plumbing code or at least municipal bylaws because it can overwhelm the municipal sewage treatment system.

as a rule wired into a home’s electrical system, sump pumps should have a battery backup. The home’s pressurized water supply powers some pumps, negating the need for electricity. If a backup system is not used then the sump pump pit could overflow if the primary power system is not avaliable for a period of time.

Sump pumps come in two primary forms defined by the style of the pump: submersible or pedestal types. The pedestal pump’s motor is mounted above the pit, where it is more readily maintained but also more conspicuous. The submersible pump is entirely mounted within the pit, and is specially sealed to forestall electrical short circuits.

Components

modern sump pump components in the United States are standardized. Sump Pump systems 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 H.P. (200 or 400 W), either battery or electrically powered (or both);

* A check valve 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 into the sump;

Backup Systems

A secondary, typically battery-powered sump pump can operate if the first pump fails. A secondary pump requires the following components in duplicate with the above others:

* A battery-driven 12 V sump pump with its own water level detector, piping, and check valve (the pipes as a rule join after the check valves to preclude reverse flow through the primary when the secondary unit is pumping);

* A conventional lead-acid battery. It may alternately be a nautical deep cycle battery, or individual long-life standby battery;

* A trickle-charge battery charger. May alternately have a specialized controller to manage, monitor and test that the battery holding a charge.

Secondary sump pumps can be powered by the house hold water pressure. These pumps are similar to backup battery-driven systems with a separate pump, float and check valves.

If the backup sump systems is rarely used, a component failure may not be noticed and the system may fail when needed. Some battery control units test the system sporadically and warn on failed electrical components.

A simple battery-powered water alarm can be hung a few inches below the top of the sump well to sound a shrill alarm should the water level rise too high.

Maintaining you Sump Pump

You must check and maintain your sump pumps. normal recommendations propose examining equipment every year.

When examining a sump pump and cleaning it, dirt, gravel, sand, and other rubble should be removed to increase efficiency and extend the life of the pump. These obstructions can also decrease the pump’s ability to drain the sump, and can allow the sump pump pit to overflow. Failing to maintain the sump pit free of debris can lead to your check valve stick.