Sump Pump

Most sump pumps have what’s called a float activator that triggers the pumping process. When water rises to the level of the float activator, it triggers the pump. The motor kicks in and sends the water through the discharge pipe, all the way outside the home. Every sump pump has what’s called a check valve to keep that water flowing one-way — you don’t have to worry about it flowing back into your home unless your sump pump is broken.

Sump pumps require an electrical outlet to run. You don’t need to do any hardwiring into the home, which saves significantly on installation costs. All you need to do is plug it into a regular, grounded outlet. You should get a circuit interrupter, though, to avoid electrocution.

The submersible sump pump is one of the most common choices for homeowners. This type of sump pump is installed into a hole in the ground. They use the previously-described float activator to determine when to pump out water. Submersible sump pumps run off an electrical outlet, and they’re much quieter than other sump pumps thanks to being underground.

The motor is sealed and oil-cooled, keeping it safe from moisture. You can actually install multiple submersible sump pumps into your home depending on the size of your sump pit. One of the pumps would be the primary pump, while another could be the secondary pump, and a third could act as a battery powered backup system. This could get expensive, but it’s ideal for high flood-risk homes.

Submersible sump pumps come with lids to hide the sump hole. The wiring and the drainage pipe stick out from the top of this sump cover. Submersible sump pumps are considered some of the most high-quality sump pumps available.

If you want a sump pump that doesn’t require a sump pit, try a floor sucker sump pump. Floor sucker sump pumps don’t need to be installed in any way. They’re ready to use right away. They don’t stop flooding — they’re used after flooding has already occurred — but give the homeowner a way to clean up flooding after it’s happened.

Floor suckers are most frequently used by contractors before installing a new sump pump. They set up the floor sucker to quickly remove any water already present on the floor. You can submerge floor suckers up to a certain depth, meaning they’re great for emergency, light and moderate flooding.

While these are great for emergency service calls, they’re no replacement for an actual sump pump. They’re loud, they have low capacity, and they don’t stop flooding at all. Floor suckers are recommended for emergency use only.

A pedestal sump pump is cheaper than a submersible sump pump, and great for basements with frequent flooding. The pedestal sump pump has two main pieces: the motor, which sits above the basement floor, and the hose that goes down into the sump pit. Pedestal sump pumps require much narrower, more shallow sump pits than submersible sump pumps. They use a float activator, like a submersible pump, to determine when to start pumping water.

Pedestal sump pumps tend to last longer than submersible pumps, as they’re not constantly submerged in water. Although submersible pumps protect their motors from water damage, they’re still more susceptible to damage. Pedestal pumps are also easier to repair if something does go wrong, as the main piece is above the ground.

The downside, however, is that a pedestal pump has less power than a submersible pump. That means they tend to drain water slower, making them non-ideal for large floods. The pedestal also takes up more space than a submersible pump as it’s situated above the ground rather than in it. If you have an area of the basement or a crawl space that experiences regular, light flooding, though, a pedestal sump pump is a great option.

This may sound counter-intuitive at first, but water-powered sump pumps make great backup pumps. As you may have guessed, water-powered sump pumps don’t need any electricity to run. Once the water level rises enough in the basin, the float activator kicks it in. The pump then uses the water inside of it to pump that water out, preventing further flooding.

Water-powered sump pumps are surprisingly effective, and are comparable to submersible pumps in how they’re installed and maintained. However, they’re best used for backup pumps as the pumping process is a bit slower than a dedicated sump pump.

Every hot tub needs to be drained and cleaned on occasion, and a sump pump is a great way to get this done. Take some hosing, attach it to your sump pump, and stick the other end in your hot tub. The tub will drain in minutes, leaving only a small puddle still in the bottom of the tub. Wet-vac that up, clean your tub, and fill it back up.

You may not want to drain the tub into the yard, though, due to the chemicals. You can drain it into a large plastic tub or pool instead. Beyond hot tubs, you can even drain your pool with a good sump pump! Make sure to skim all the leaves and debris out first, then follow the same steps as draining the hot tub. The pool will take a bit longer to drain, but it takes a lot of heavy work out of the process.

It’s recommended that you drain your hot water tank occasionally to get rid of built-up sediment. Attach a hose to the hot water tank, attach the other end to the pump, and get draining. Make sure not to touch the water or get it in your face. It’s hot.

If your home is prone to flooding, your yard likely is, too. If you have a low spot in your yard that’s prone to flooding, stick a hose in the sump pump and stick the other end in the flooded area. You can then drain some of that surface water elsewhere.

You can even install a sump pump into the flooding area of your yard. You’ll need to dig a sump pit, concrete it over, and get a cover for it. This is a great solution for areas of your yard that frequently flood.

If you’re a farmer, you need to supply your livestock with fresh water to keep them healthy and happy. If your livestock tank is getting dirty, use a sump pump to drain it and replace the water. This is a much better alternative to dumping the water into the dirt and creating mud.