The Sump Pump Explained
Are you curious about what a sump pump is? Maybe you have one in your home and need to know about maintaining it, or you’re just curious how it got there and what it’s for. In the worst case, maybe you are experiencing water in your basement and want to know the best way to prevent this from continuing to happen. Sump pumps are a great solution to search for! Here, we offer explanations on everything about sump pumps. Check out our insights on the workings of sump pumps and how to keep yours working to collect and pump water safely out of your home.
Why We Need Sump Pumps
One of the most overlooked components in residences today is below ground level, and it works quite well – until it doesn’t. These simple but powerful systems can be crucial in protecting your home from the damage related to water coming into the lower levels. I am speaking of the almighty sump pump.
First, the history of the sump pump:
French drains, as they are frequently called, have very little to do with the country, as their name might suggest. French drains are an American invention. They were popularized by Henry Flag French (1813-1885), born and raised in Concord, MA. They were developed to respond to the homes built in the late 1700s and 1800s before foundations were constructed out of reinforced concrete. The results of this construction were often the flooded rooms, most basements, of some of the more critical people of Massachusetts.
How Does the Sump Pump Work?
At the top of this page is an early drawing of Mr. French’s French Drain.
As you can see, the objective was relatively simple. Create a drain route line around the entire floor perimeter for excessive rainwater, which had found its way into the home, giving it another way out. In the beginning, a hand pump was used to reduce the water level in the home, the water is captured in a tank designed to handle large amounts of water run-off. The holding tank (a few feet deep or so) would then be pumped out again outside the home and foundation, often some distance of several feet, to avoid returning moisture creeping in.
Types of Sump Pumps
When it comes to the actual design of the pump in your sump pump systems, there are two primary types of sump pumps you will usually find. The design of your pump will vary based on the size of your sump basin and whether or not it requires a pump that can be positioned under or out of the water. These two types of pumps are pedestal and submersible pumps.
Pedestal Sump Pumps
Pedestal sump pumps are a type of sump pump with a pump motor positioned above the water basin and is best for a smaller sump basin or pit. This type of sump pump tends to be the easiest design to work on if any maintenance is needed and the quickest to operate.
Submersible Pumps
Unlike the pedestal pumps, a submersible sump pump is positioned underwater in the sump basin and can be used for a much larger sump basin or pit. A submersible pump can be slower to operate and more difficult to do maintenance work on than the pedestal type because of how the submersible sump pump is positioned in the basin (due to it being difficult to reach the submersible pump).
How did I get a French Drain in my house?
Installing a French drain around the inside perimeter is most commonly done after the house has been built. This is most commonly done in response to a wet basement or before performing a basement finish. To install this kind of drain, the perimeter of the basement floor is jackhammered down to the footing, and the concrete is removed. A layer of stone is laid down, and a perforated drain pipe is laid on top. Water is collected from the basement wall floor joint as it enters, and a pump is installed in a hole at the lowest point in the basement to remove water away from your home and the foundation and prevent it from flooding your basement.
How Commonly Are Sump Pumps Used?
Except for recent “Storms of the Century,” such as the Hurricane Sandy storm in 2012, for many years, overflowing excess water from a typical storm was handled by pumps or, more accurately, sump pumps. The standard sump pump often is attached to a battery backup system to assist in a loss of power for a short time while rainwater or storms continue. I’ve known people who have kept up to 4 backup batteries ready for their sump pump, just in case the power was lost for a significant period.
Sump Pump Life Span
Don’t ignore this important objective of keeping your basement dry, even in torrential storms. A sump pump’s life typically lasts 5-10 years or more. An easy way to check (assuming your pump was installed so it does NOT go into the sewer line, which is a statewide violation) is to wait for a strong storm and look for a piece of plastic (most often gray PVC) or pipe pumping water from the inside of your home to the outside.
The Sump Pump Battery
The sump pump may be battery-powered and powered by the household electrical current, depending on the available energy source. Battery boxes typically sit on a shelf (often homemade). A quick check of the battery’s power output will determine if the right voltage is present to drive the floatation device to expel excess water. Sometimes, a backup sump pump is installed next to the main system in case of a failure in the pump system.
Priorities to Consider when Purchasing a Sump Pump or a Replacement:
1) Pump Size
Search for the right size to support your home. Don’t be fooled by low-cost alternatives to those recommended by your plumber. The cost of water damage and dealing with a flooded basement will not be worth the money saved by buying a sump pump system that isn’t right for your home. The price often varies depending on the pump’s horsepower strength and flow rate, and you don’t want a pump that won’t have enough horsepower to move water away from the house when you need to. The sump pit should also be big enough to collect and handle the water volume your home is accustomed to receiving.
2) Installation
Proper installation must be conducted by trained personnel. The pump part of the sump pump relies on a motor that turns an impeller (a fan-like component). This impeller directs water flow through the discharge pipe with good pressure. Not only is the right size pump and sump pit important, but the discharge pipe, as the name implies, is the tube designed to push the excess water from your home. In a phrase – size matters! You also don’t want much debris built up in the drain, valve head, or pipe systems, hindering water flow.
3) Float & Switches
Float failure and switch failure are rare, but they can happen. The pump relies on a float system that switches (not a pressure switch) its functions on and off automatically. As the sump pit or tank fills, a floatation device rises with the water to turn on a switch to begin the pumping action. It will float in the tank until such a time as the water reaches a certain level that exceeds the safety point, in which case the switch is lifted, and it activates the automatic pump. A sump pump could also have a pressure sensor to perform this function instead of a float. Some homes below the water table will likely experience the sump pump running periodically to keep this continuous water out of the house.
Suppose you’re one of the lucky ones not to have to rely on your sump pump because you live well above the water table-GREAT! But don’t be fooled into complacency and forget to test it out. At least once a year, preferably twice, using a hose or bucket, fill the sump pit so that the switch is lifted and you can feel confident you’re probably safe from a basement flood and the switches are working. But don’t forget, if you lose power for a significant period, you’ll need to rely on your battery backup to keep your sump pump powered, so make sure the battery is also fully charged and ready for service.
4) Pipes
It’s a good idea to be extra careful during winter, as a frozen water removal tube is equally useless. If a freeze is coming, and there is water in the tube or discharge pipes, odds are it won’t freeze since its moving water is usually picking up some heat from the home as it travels and thus is unfrozen. But a sudden freeze overnight can make it useless and, in a worst-case scenario, could result in flooding in your basement. Debris in the pipes can also create a blockage or clog in the water pressure you may be unaware of, especially if there is no functioning check valve. Test it! – Don’t Guess.
Sump Pump Maintenance Tips
White vinegar poured into the sump pump tank/pit and activated by manually pulling up the float switch until empty will remove any debris or potential clogs in the pipes or valve head. Once or twice a year give your sump pump a nice salad dressing like this, sans the oil.
You may consider adding a backup sump pump as an extra step to ensure your home is protected from flooding in the event of a component failure in the main sump pump. It never hurts to take additional steps of caution.
What do you do when you don’t install it?
It may still work fine if it’s over ten years old. But following the manufacturer’s procedures, the Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC tech will carefully advise you on your options, choices, and costs. Keeping debris out of your sump pump systems and preventing freezing or failure of components are the best ways to guarantee your house is safe from water damage. It’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.
Contact Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC for Sump Pump Maintenance & Service
Call Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC at 201-343-1414. For a small fee, we will inspect the current status of your sump pump unit. Most, if not all sump pumps have a date stamp on the label to let our techs know the age it was installed. We offer top-rated sump pump works and services to help you install, maintain, or repair your sump pump system if needed. We are here to help at any time in case of an emergency, and we fix many problems related to HVAC as well. We have more articles with tips on maintaining these systems in your home or business, and we invite you to look. Take it from the experts!
About Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC
Exclusively Serving Bergen County, New Jersey
Michael Muccia is a Master Plumber and the owner and operator of Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC. Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC is a full-service Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) service company based in and serving Bergen County, NJ, since 1978. The Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC team of trained and certified service technicians offers various services, including general plumbing and heating maintenance, for residential and commercial clients.
Whatever your plumbing, heating, air conditioning, or ventilation needs are, it’s easier with Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC. We treat our customers, large and small, with the best service in the industry. We know you have a choice when considering an HVAC company, and no matter what we do for you, we treat it as the most crucial job in our history. Our experience proves that we know how to work efficiently, which keeps costs low, uses only the best components within budget, and stands behind the work we do.
Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC has locations in the following areas:
Hackensack | Hillside | Ramsey | Waldwick | Maywood | Tenafly
