Sump Pump Buying Guide: 9 Factors to Consider Before Making Your Choice

Before going into the specific sump pump features to consider when purchasing a sump pump, it is essential to grasp the basic concept of what a sump pump is and how it operates.<[p>

A sump pump is a mechanical device installed in a pit, known as a sump pit, typically located in the basement or crawl space of a house. Water flows into the pit through drain tile installed around the perimeter of the house. Its primary function is to pump out accumulated water from the pit to prevent its overflowing to keep the area dry. The amount and speed at which water enters the pit and how high the water must be pumped vertically all impact the horse power and pump performance needed when choosing a sump pump.

It is important to consider factors such as the volume of roof run off during rainstorms, the elevation of the land around the home and neighborhood, the amount of rainfall year round in the area that causes sump pump challenges, the water table level, and the types of water sources that potentially cause flooding in the basement or crawl space.

Just remember a house with a large steeply sloped roof at the bottom of a hill has more water pumping needs than a small flat roofed house at the top of a hill. Additionally, it is important to decide if a backup pump is needed to ensure sump pump functionality exists during power outages or main pump failure.

Generally a one-third horse power pump is sufficient for a house with a 1200 square foot footprint with fairly flat terrain.

Submersible sump pumps are known as submersible because they sit in a pit submersed in water. A pedestal sump pump comprises a motor and switch that sits on top of a column pedestal and is not submersed in water.

The submersible sump pump is more popular because it sits in the pit and the noise of the motor is absorbed somewhat within the walls of the pit and it is safer for families with children and pets. On the other hand, the pedestal sump pump is easier to service because its motor and switch are above the pit out of the water and easy to access.

A sump pump depends on electricity for its power source. Backup pumps are used when electricity is not available. Backup sump pump power can be batteries or water. Battery backup sump pumps are more popular than water powered sump pumps; however water powered sump pumps are a great alternative for those who have city water and need less than 1800 GPH because water powered pumps run endlessly as long as there is city water. A combination sump pump includes both a primary submersible sump pump and a battery backup sump pump.

A Combo pump is a great sump pump type to use because it consists of two sump pump types: a primary pump that runs on electricity and a battery backup pump that runs on battery power. A combo pump provides protection if the primary pump fails or the electricity goes out. It comes pre-assembled as one unit with check valves and Wye connections. It is very easy to install.

Pumping power and pumping performance go hand in hand. The greater the horse power of the sump pump, the greater the pumping performance. Pump performance is measured in gallons per hour (GPH) or gallons per minute (GPM) pumped consistently at a specific vertical height.

A pumps pumping capability should be sufficient to handle the maximum water flow during heavy rains or floods. Adding ten percent additional capacity is a smart move based on increasingly heavy rainstorms these days. Similarly, a pumps power is expressed in horsepower (HP).

Not all electronic switches have the same life span.

After doing a lot of research, we discovered an electronic switch that has an extremely long life span. We installed our HC6000 electronic switch in 2011 and it has not failed yet 12 years later.

The HC6000 electronic switch is an unbelievably reliable switch. Our electronic switch is used a lot. We live in a high water table area so our sump pump runs several times a day even when it does not rain. We like the fact that the ON OFF height is customizable. This allows us to use a heavy duty primary pump in the pit and set the distance between the ON OFF at nine inches to prevent the motor from short cycling and wearing pre maturely.

Since a sump pump deals with water, often in demanding conditions, it is vital to choose a model constructed from durable and corrosion-resistant materials. Pumps made from materials like cast iron and stainless steel offer better longevity and reliability, ensuring that your investment stands the test of time. Epoxy coating for cast iron pump housing retards corrosion. Cast iron adds weight so the pump remains more stationary during heavy continuous pumping and dissipates motor heat better. Thermoplastic traps heat and aluminum and zinc housing will not last as long. Stainless steel is stronger and will last longer than aluminum or zinc housing though it is not as heavy as cast iron.

The easiest sump pump type to install is a combination sump pump. A combination sump pumps is two sump pumps preassembled together so there is only one discharge connection to make.

. Installing a submersible and battery backup sump pump separately in the same pit can be difficult because there is not enough room for two pumps or creating the right angle connection for both of them to use the main discharge pipe can be very challenging.