How To Buy A Sump Pump

Find Guidance For Identifying The Best Sump Pump

Learn How To Identify Your Water Needs

Learn How To Buy The Best

Best Pump Selection for your Water Pumping Needs
×BEST SUMP PUMPS HOW TO SELECTStep 1 IMPORTANT PUMP PARTS Step 2 IDENTIFY YOUR PUMPING NEEDSDO IT YOURSELFPLUMBER RECOMMENDStep 3 DISCOVER BEST TO BUYQUICK SHOP PUMPSHELPFUL RESOURCE LINKS
    HOW TO BUY A SUMP PUMP (PAGE) CONTENT
   (Click A Menu Topic To See More Specific Information; Scroll down the page to see all Menu Topic Information.)
Select a SUMMARY level topic or scroll down the page to see all topics.
 
HOW TO BUY   STEP 1 UNDERSTAND PUMP PARTS    STEP 2 IDENTIFY YOUR NEEDS   PLUMBER RECOMMENDATIONS   STEP 3 IDENTIFY BEST PUMP TO BUY   QUICK SHOP PUMPS
 
PAGE-MENU
 
 

Learn How To Buy The Best

We are sure you are concerned about keeping your basement dry but have problems finding a good sump pump because you do not know how to make a good selection. Have you listened to your relatives and friends and selected a pump based on their experience? Or have you gone to your local Big Box store and concluded the best selection is based on which pumps are on the store shelves? Sooner or later your existing sump pump will fail and you will wish you had taken more time before an emergency situation occurs to know how to buy a sump pump. The following three steps will help you.

PAGE-MENU
 
 

How To Buy A Sump Pump Three Steps

Consider the following three steps so you are prepared when your existing pump fails.

 
 

Step 1 Know And Understand The Important Sump Pump Parts

Three Most Important Parts To Consider

Switch

All sump pumps have a switch to activate the motor. The type determines what is used to activate the switch. The three common switch types include: 1) The Float-Switch 2) The Diaphragm-Switch 3) The Electronic-Switch .

The FLOAT SWITCH has a float that rises and lowers based on the basin water height. As the float rises to a preset height it activates the switch (completes the circuit) which turns the motor on. When the water lowers causing the float to lower, the switch turns off (the circuit is incomplete) and the motor turns off.

The two float switch styles are the TETHER and the VERTICAL. The tether style easily gets hung up on the basin wall or caught on something in the pit. The vertical style can also get caught on the basin wall if a protective switch guard is not part of the pump-design.

Both styles require replacement every three to five years depending upon frequency of use. Rather than discard a cast-iron pump every three years, it is best to buy a replacement switch. Some brands make replacement parts easy to buy and install, especially Zoeller and Wayne. Check out the replacement parts easy to buy.

The DIAPHRAGM SWITCH has a membrance found on the side of the pump. The membrance convexes and concaves as the water rises and lowers. It is the water pressure affect on the diaphram that causes the switch to activate and cause the motor to turn on.

Generally the diaphragm lasts longer than the float; however a small pebble can get caught in the diaphragm area and cause switch failure or the membrance can get brittle and out of shape causing it to fail. If a diaphragm switch fails it is best to replace it with another type.

The ELECTRONIC SWITCH has a sensor in the water which is affected by water pressure or presence. Learn more about the Electronic Switch Controller HC6000

This switch type is far superior to the traditonal styles. There are no moving parts to fail or get hung up and no extra basin space is required because it is attached to the PVC discharge-pipe.

Installation of an electronic switch requires bypassing the traditional switch which is part of the pump or to install a manual pump and use the electronic-switch to automate it.

Pump and Motor Housing

The best pump and motor housing is that which will dissipate heat, not crack under heavy usage or warp because of increased heat during long periods of continuous pumping, and will not corrode from sump pit water and its chemicals. Cast-iron is powder-coated with an epoxy finish to resist corrosion. Bronze is the best; cast iron is second and stainless steel is the third best. Zinc alloy and aluminum are also better than thermoplastic which rates as the poorest material to use.

Most manufacturers use canned motors which are placed inside a pump housing. The material surrounding the canned motors is stainless steel which does not dissipate heat as well as cast-iron. Zoeller is an exception because they use a cast iron motor housing plus a cast iron pump housing.

Non-clogging Mechanism

The most common mechanisms used are the screen or vortex impeller. Screens require maintenance because they get clogged easily if debris or small pebbles are present in the basin.

The best style is the vortex impeller because it does not use a screen that requires periodic cleaning and does not get clogged by small pebbles or debris in the pit. Solids handling size varies from one-half inch to three-quarters inch soldis.
 
PAGE-MENU
 
 
 
 

Step 2 Understand Your Pumping Needs

Ask These Questions About Your Existing Sump Pump System

Select a question find responses in the section below the questions.
 
 
Go back How To Buy A Sump-Pump Topics.
 
 

How Big Should The Pump Be?

Installing too large of a pump for the small volume of water you have in your basin during heavy rain storms is just as bad as having too small of a pump installed to handle large volumes of water during heavy downpours. Too large of a motor will cause iit to short cycle and burn out sooner. Know how much water enters your sump pit during heavy pumping periods. It is easy to measure. Based on the volume you can find sump pumps that can handle that amount of flow per minute.

 
PAGE-MENU
 
 
 

How Large Is The Existing Basin?

A sump pit which is at least eighteen inches in diameter is ideal. A twenty-four inch diameter pit is best. A large pit gives you the option of installing almost any brand of sump pump. A small pit limits the pump selection options available to you. Manufacturers are making good narrow sump pumps today. A narrow primary pump means there is also room for a backup pump to sit on the pit floor next to the main pump.

Go back How To Buy A Sump Pump Topics.
 
PAGE-MENU
 
 
 

Is There Debri Or Sludge Coming Into The Basin?

Most pits have small pebbles and debris and if not now they probably will have such in the future; therefore to play it safe it is best to install a pump with a vortex impeller.

 
PAGE-MENU
 
 
 

How Long Is The Vertical Portion Of The Discharge Piping?

The vertical length of the PVC discharge piping impacts the flow rate of water pumped from the pit, up the PVC discharge-pipe, and out from the house. Each manufacturer documents the pumping capability per minute or per hour at different height levels. You must know the maximum vertical height the water must be pumped to determine which sump pumps are built to handle the water flow in and out of your pit during heavy rainstorms. Each pump has a height level at which it ceases to function.

Go back How To Buy A Sump Pump Table Of Contents.
 
PAGE MENU
 
 

Are There Chemicals In The Basin Water?

The existence of chemicals in the basin are not visible; however certain areas of the county do naturally have more calcium carbonate than others. The most common areas where carbon carbonate concentration is higher include the southwest and states such as Dakotas, Illinois and Ohio. Electronic switches are great; however some are affected by chemicals. There is one electronic switch that is not impacted by chemicals and has all of the many advantages those type of switches offer. The next best type of switch is a vertical solid state float switch.

 
PAGE MENU
 
 
 

Are You A Do-It-Yourself Homeowner And Prefer To Replace A Pump Or Switch Yourself?

Do-it-yourself homeowners have several options for easy to install sump pumps and switches. To make installation easier there are many pump manufacturers who pre-assemble the discharge pipe to the main pump. Other manufacturers assemble a main pump and battery backup pump as one unit calling it a combination sump/battery pump. Most of these pre-assembled packages also include the discharge pipe so the home owner only needs to connect the discharge pipe to the homes existing discharge pipe. Before buying always check the dimensions of a preassembled sump-pump to make sure it will fit in your basin.

Installing or replacing a sump pump is not as hard as one would think. Basically all sump pumps are installed the same way even though they have different dimensions. We provide the steps for installing a Zoeller sump-pump. Check out the steps.

 
Go back How To Buy A Sump-Pump Index.
 
PAGE MENU
 
 
 

Would You Like To Install A Plumber Recommended Sump Pump?

Some sump pumps come highly recommended by plumbers; however until the existence of online stores, consumers who wanted to buy their own pumps were limited to what was available in the big box stores. The internet offers the plumber recommended sump pumps at discounted prices. Now the home owner can buy and install highly rated sump pumps.

PumpsSelection.com is here to help find the best sump pumps for your water pumping needs at the lowest price.
 
PAGE MENU
 
 
 

Step 3 Identify The Best Sump Pump To Buy

The best sump-pump for you to buy is the one what fits into the basin, can pump enough gallons per minute (GPM), has replacement parts if you intend to keep the pump longer than switch failure, is made of cast iron, has a vertical float switch, and has at least a three year warranty.

We believe the best two sump pumps to buy are the Zoeller M63 and M95. Both are made of cast iron, have a vertical float switch, and have a five year warranty. Learn more about the M63 and M95. See why they are highly rated.

 
Buy Zoller M63 Now
Buy Zoller M95 Now
 
PAGE MENU
 
Go back How To Buy A Sump Pump Index.
 
 
 
 
WHAT NEXT
YES, NEXT I WANT TO?

DISCOVER THE BEST SUMP PUMPS FOR YOUR NEEDS

QUICK SHOP PUMPS BY BRAND

QUICK SHOP BY PUMP TYPE, PARTS & ACCESSORIES

QUICK SHOP ZOELLER PUMPS AND PARTS

 
 
 
BEST SELLERS

BEST SELLERS PUMPS

DETAILED PUMP REVIEWS

ALL BRANDS

OTHER HELPFUL WEBSITES

RELATED WEBSITES

 
 
OUR MISSION

THE HELPFUL PUMP PLACE where you can become an educated shopper. Review - Compare - Shop for the Best Water Pump For Your Water Pumping Needs.

SHARE US

 

 
 
© 2009, All Rights Reserved
Find the best pump selection for your pumping needs today at lowest prices.
pumpsselection.com