This is a guest blog post by Steve Grohn, CEO of Standard Water Control Systems. We occasionally publish guest blog posts by invitation only.
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Considering a new sump pump or backup system? Here’s what you need to know.
Your sump pump is the heart of your basement drain tile system, and if it fails, water is unable to exit your basement area. A power outage during a storm could literally cause hundreds of gallons of water to flood your basement. Not good.
There are essentially 5 decisions to make when considering what type of sump pump to purchase:
There are two types of sump pumps: submersible in water and non-submersible – which are also called Pedestal pumps. Pedestals were designed first, of course, because who would have thought to design a motor to actually operate underwater?
The Pedestal pump has several key features. First, since the pump sits above the basin, it is easier to inspect or observe because you don’t have to remove the pit lid and reach down in the water. The downside is that someone may bump into the exposed motor. Second, the impeller, which draws the water out, takes up less room so you can install it in smaller basins.
The submersible pump, on the other hand, runs much quieter as it is submerged in water with a lid on top that can be sealed. The lid should always be sealed to help prevent radon gas from entering the home, but that’s a topic for another blog. And since the pump is out of sight, there is little chance of damage or an accident. There are more submersible options on the market, as they are more popular. Finally, the submersible pump offers more pumping capacity for the price.
Horsepower doesn’t tell the whole story! Gallons pumped per minute (GPM) is the most effective way to measure pump performance. Some 1/3 HP models, for example, pump 20 GPM and others pump 50 GPM – both when measured at a vertical height of 10 feet. To determine your GPM needs, calculate out how much water is entering your sump pump basin per minute – then you know what size to buy. That being said, according to a manufacturer’s representative for one of the largest pump manufacturers in the United States, nearly all residential homes have 1/3 or 1/2 HP sump pumps. Consider calling a company specializing in drain tile and sump pumps for a professional opinion on proper sizing if need be.
Why is an alarm or notification important? Because unless you plan to be in the basement when your pump is running you will NOT know when it fails. And if it does fail, your basement can possibly take on hundreds of gallons of water in a very short period of time. So consider an audible alarm, visual alarm, and even remote notifications in case of an emergency. Many models have wifi options to notify you through your smartphone.
A backup pump or secondary system is an insurance policy against your primary pump either failing or losing power. A reliable secondary system in place is the best way to protect your property. True redundancy means a second pump, switch, source of power, discharge pipe and notifications should any of the redundant features be called on because of a primary pump failure, power interruption, frozen or separated pipe, or even a capacity shortfall on the initial pump in a major rainfall event. When considering backup options, make sure you find a system that is capable of pumping a sufficient amount. If you have a primary pump that can pump 40 GPM then you should have a backup pump that is capable of a similar amount. Why? You just might need that pump to save your basement during a major rainfall event when your power goes out. If you don’t have a generator, consider a maintenance-free versus a maintainable battery. While it may cost more, you don’t have to mess around monitoring or adding liquids.
Almost all sump pumps come with a 1-, 2-, 3- or even 5-year warranty. Longer warranties normally accompany the better products, and thus, are usually more expensive. Some companies warrant pumps from the date of manufacturing, some from the date of purchase, and some from the date of installation. Some manufacturers ask to have the pumps returned and inspected (not returned to the stores) before those warranties are honored. Other companies back the installers to make those decisions on the spot. To get a labor warranty, you will typically need to hire a contractor, which again may cost more, but you also have peace of mind. Hiring a contractor who has experience with pumps can save you future headaches.
Stay tuned for the next article on drain tile – what you need to know when considering an updated or new drain tile system. If you’d like to learn more about sump pumps, or just need service, call us at 763-537- or visit us online at StandardWater.com.
Submersible sump pumps are the preferred choice for most residential applications, but not all pumps are made equal!
Submersible pumps come in multiple horsepower ratings and have different accessory options, and it can be confusing to choose between them.
This guide will explain everything you need to know to confidently choose the right submersible pump for your sump pit and ensure it's the right size for the job. After all, a properly sized sump pump saves money and hassle in the long run.
There are four major factors to consider to be confident you're choosing the right submersible pump for the job. There's a saying about "bigger is better," but with sump pumps, this is not true.
Oversizing a sump pump can lead to constant cycling and premature burnout of your pump system. Under-sizing a pump can lead to the same issue, so it's important to choose a submersible pump that most closely fits the needs of your sump pit.
For more information, please visit INDUX.
To properly size a submersible sump pump and safely put together a proper sump pump system, you'll need to:
Horsepower is the most important factor when determining which sump pump is best for your application, and it's used to determine how much power your pump can produce to empty your sump pit through the discharge piping.
It's important to understand that each submersible sump pump has its own pump curve and recommended uses, so make sure to check the specifications of the pump to make sure it's going to work for you since total pump output can vary between manufacturers. This information can be found for each pump on our product pages.
If you're replacing a previous pump, typically you should stick to the same horsepower (HP) rating as your old pump unless you experienced any issues with that pump before it failed. Every sump pump has a data plate that can be checked to determine all the most important pump information, including HP ratings and model number for reference.
If you can't locate the information or can't find your user manual, we have a manual lookup tool you can use to find your old pump's manual.
For most average-sized homes in areas with average water tables, a 1/3 HP sump pump should be sufficient. Typically, 1/3 HP pumps can handle 7' - 10' vertical lifts from the sump pit if they have one 90-degree elbow and a horizontal pipe run between 3 feet and 25 feet.
If you live in an average-sized home with an above-average water table, you will most likely need a 1/2 HP sump pump. These pumps will generally pump about 35%-40% more than their 1/3 HP counterparts, and can also handle higher vertical lifts for water being pumped through your discharge pipe.
When you have a slightly higher vertical lift (10-15 feet) or a long horizontal run (example: 30-150 feet), you may notice a loss of water flow due to the increased friction from the longer runs. For those conditions, you may need a higher pumping capacity (HP and GPH) to overcome that loss.
For people living in high water table areas, flood plains, low-lying areas susceptible to flooding, or have a deeper basement, you will likely need a stronger 3/4 HP sump pump
or a 1 HP sump pump.
These pumps will generally provide a 20% - 25% increase in pumping capacity over a 1/2HP sump pump. In addition, if you have an installation where you need a high vertical lift or head (20-30 feet) and/or a long horizontal run (150-250 feet), 3/4 - 1 HP pumps provide the additional power needed to pump that water. These higher-output sump pumps are also ideal for outdoor pump applications.
When dealing with higher GPM and longer pumping distances, special attention needs to be placed on choosing a proper discharge pipe diameter to prevent problems with higher-powered pumps.
Float switches, water alarms, and backup pumps are all necessary to prevent your basement from flooding, which is why you need a sump pump in the first place.
Most sump pumps will come with a float switch, or you can purchase a replacement separately. We recommend electronic float switches because they take up less space in your sump pit and are the most reliable switches on the market.
With water alarm systems, wifi-enabled kits can be purchased that connect to your sump pump and call, text, or you if anything is going wrong with your sump pit. They are extremely useful to have because a regular beeping water alarm won't do much good if no one is home to hear it.
Backup sump pump systems are your only hope of preventing a flood if you lose primary power at home and don't have a generator standing by. You can buy a backup sump pump system separately, or get one included with your primary pump by getting a combination sump pump system.
We take pride in looking for the best of the best submersible pumps on the market. Not only that, but we also compiled lists of the top-selling, highest-rated, and expert-recommended submersible pumps that real customers have purchased, used, and reviewed. Take a look below and see the best submersible pumps of the year, which are updated in real-time.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Submersible Drainage Sump Pump. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.