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What Is A Sump Pump? A Sump Pump Is ......
- The main component of a sump pump system that is used to remove water from a basement that would be damp and wet if drainage and a sump pump system were not installed.
- Used to remove water from a pit.
- Operates by some source of energy (electricity, water pressure, battery, generator).
Sump pump components may include motor, float, switch, volute, impeller, protection screen, cord, discharge port.
- Motor types are single pole, split phase.
- Float types are tether, vertical (mechanical or magnetic).
- Switch types are diaphragm, float-switch, controllers (microprocessor, digital level)
- Volute is the chamber in which impeller rotates
- Impeller rotates and pushes the water out. Its source of power is the motor.
- Protection screens may be used to prevent small debris from collecting in the volute or obstructing the impeller.
- Cords are plugged into electrical current. Piggyback switch cords are extremely valuable. The main cord is plugged directly into the electrical current; it is for the float-switch operation; the cord that plugs into the piggyback operates the motor. If the float-switch fails the motor cord can be plugged directly into the electrical current and controlled manually.
- Discharge ports are connected to a pipe (PVC or garden hose) through which the water is pumped.
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What Construction Material Is Used For Sump Pump Components?
- Motor housing are generally thermoplastic. Zoeller is unique. Zoeller builds its own motors rather than using third party motors; Therefore it uses cast iron for motor housing.
- Pumping housing is generally made from thermoplastic, carbon steel, aluminum, zinc stainless steel and cast iron. Thermoplastic does not dissipate heat well so is used on one-fourth and one-third horse power pumps. Typically one-half, three-fourths and one horse power pumps use cast iron though Wayne uses stainless steel frequently with a cast iron base. Cast iron and bronze have the longest life span and dissipate heat the best. .
- Volutes are generally thermoplastic or cast iron.
- Impellers are generally thermoplastic or cast iron.
- Handles, float protection guards and fasteners are always stainless steel and will not rust.
Sump pump size is defined by motor horse power. Here are some basic facts about sump pump size.
- The most commonly used sump pump horse power is one-third.
- The size of horse power to use depends on how much and how fast the water enters the sump basin.
- Manufacturers publish the pumps pumping performance curves and charts for each model. Pump performance is defined by horse power and vertical height the water must be pumped before reaching is 'away from the house' destination.
- Using too small of a sump pump is as bad as installing too large or a sump pump in terms of horse power. One-fourth horse power sump pumps cannot keep up with heavy continuous heavy rainstorms. And installation of a one horse power pump is too big and will short cycle the pump motor and cause a motor to prematurely fail.
Sump Pump Size And Float Type Affect Sump Basin Size Required
Most submersible sump pumps are not affected by horse power as much as by float switch type. Here's why.
- Many manufacturers increase the height of larger horse power pumps rather than make them wider.
- A sump pump with a tether float switch takes at least 6 inches more of basin diameter because the tether anf float swing up and out as the water in the basin increases.
- A vertical float switch only moves up and down and that movement is up and down on a rod that stays stationary during pumping cycles.
- The diaphragm switch has no float; instead it has a diaphragm membrane that is attached to the sump pump. The diaphragm only moves in and out but very slightly and does not take additional sump basin space.
- A battery backup sump pump runs with battery power so needs a controller to run the pump. The controller is plugged into the electrical circuit so its charger can recharge the battery after usage. But the pump itself is not plugged into the wall electrical outlet.
- A water powered backup sump pump does not rely on electrical or battery power. It is hooked up to the house city water inlet. Then water powered pump relies on water pressure to provide the power needed to run the pump.
- A pedestal sump pump is different from primary pump and the battery backup sump pump because its motor is sits above the basin and cannot get wet. Many like this pump type because it is easy to service. But there are others who do not like the noise of the motor. When a sump pump is submersed in a basin, the basin walls absorb a lot of the motor noise. This sump pump type is made to run on either electric or battery power. The model determines which power is used. Like the primary and battery backup sump pumps, the pedestal sump pump has a float which rises and triggers the switch which provides power to the motor so the pump runs.
- The main component of a sump pump system that is used to remove water from a basement that would be damp and wet if drainage and a sump pump system were not installed.
Sump pump components may include motor, float, switch, volute, impeller, protection screen, cord, discharge port.
- Motor housing are generally thermoplastic. Zoeller is unique. Zoeller builds its own motors rather than using third party motors; Therefore it uses cast iron for motor housing.
Sump pump size is defined by motor horse power. Here are some basic facts about sump pump size.
Most submersible sump pumps are not affected by horse power as much as by float switch type. Here's why.
How sump pumps work depends upon their power source and their float switch.
