A sump pump is used in areas such as basements and crawl spaces to remove unwanted water. If ignored this water can eventually cause major property damage as well as pose a serious health risk. A sump pump will automatically pump this water out and away from the structure. A typical sump pump will consist of the pump itself, a power supply, and a sump pit.
The pit can be constructed of concrete or it can be a pre-fabricated plastic or rubber material designed for your application. Sump pumps come in a wide variety of sizes depending on the amount of water you will need to remove at what frequency. While the size of the pump will vary, there are basically only two types of sump pumps.
Types of Sump Pumps
A pedestal sump pump will be the cheaper of your two options. On this type the pump motor sits atop a pedestal (pole) which is connected to the pumping mechanism at the base of the pedestal. When the water reaches a certain depth on the pedestal the motor is activated and the water pumped out. The second type of pump is the submersible pump. With a submersible pump the motor and pumping mechanism both sit in the water and can be totally submerged without causing damage to the unit. Which type you select will be dependent on your needs as well as your budget.
Installing the Sump Pump
Choose the location of the sump pump carefully. It should be located where the water tends to gather or where ground water seeps up into the basement or crawl space. The first step is to dig a hole large enough to accommodate your pit liner. If you are attempting to catch ground water before it can reach the surface you will want to install gravel around the liner which should also have holes or porous material which will allow the water to enter the liner.
With the liner in place, center the pump in the base of the pit. It using a pedestal style pump be certain the pump is secure and will not tip over when the motor is activated.
Powering Your Sump Pump
Check the amperage on the pump and select an appropriate sized breaker switch for your unit. The sump pump should be on a dedicated circuit, meaning nothing else should be powered by that same breaker. For added safety, the outlet used to plug in the pump should be a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interruption) device. These devices give added safety in the event of a short or other mishap.
Sump Pump Drain
The drain line for the sump pump should travel the shortest possible route. The longer the drain line the more water the pump will be required to push, thus increasing the strain on the pump. If your home is on a septic tank you should not route the drain line to the septic tank or have it drain in the area of the septic field lines. The excess water will cause a strain on the septic system. In some areas it is also a violation of codes to tie in the drain line from the sump pump to your sewer connection. Check your local codes to be certain before making any connections of this type.
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