So what exactly is the difference between a sump pump and a submersible pump? It can be a little confusing, but is quite simple really. In essence a submersible or immersible pump is one which allows the entire assembly (including the electric motor) to be placed under water, whereas a sump or pedestal pump keeps the electric motor above water level.
What are the different types of sump pumps?
The two main types of sump pumps are submersible and pedestal sump pumps. Like the name, a submersible pump is designed be submerged in water. The pedestal pump sits in the sump pit, but the motor is not designed to get wet so it sits outside the pit.
What is the difference between pedestal and submersible sump pumps?
The pedestal pump sits in the sump pit, but the motor is not designed to get wet so it sits outside the pit. It is argued that the submersible pump placed on the bottom of the pit is more stable than the pedestal pump.
Should a sump pump be over or under sized?
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. To properly size a submersible sump pump and safely put together a proper sump pump system, you’ll need to:
What are the benefits of a submersible sump pump?
Solid Handling: Submersible sump pumps are better at handling solids, meaning that if it won’t get stuck as easily as a pedestal pump when there’s debris and small stones in the water.
Is a sump pump the same as a submersible pump?
The two main types of sump pumps are submersible and pedestal sump pumps. Like the name, a submersible pump is designed be submerged in water. The pedestal pump sits in the sump pit, but the motor is not designed to get wet so it sits outside the pit.
Is a submersible sump pump better?
Submersible sump pumps are more powerful than pedestal pumps and can pump out solids and debris that may find their way into your sump pit, making them more expensive but greatly worth the investment.
Why is a submersible pump called a sump pump?
A sump pump transfers water from a low-lying area to a place it can drain safely away. The word “sump” means pit, and a basement pit or crawl space is the most common place to find a sump pump. A pump that clears standing water from the yard might be called a transfer pump, but it's basically a sump pump.
Does a submersible sump pump have to be submerged?
There are many different types of pumps. Some pumps need to be completely submerged, while others can also function while half submerged. There are also submersible pumps made for draining sewage that can also handle solids. Sump pumps are best for draining water from the sumps when the basement becomes flooded.
How long do submersible sump pumps last?
about 10 yearsLike other appliances and equipment in your home, your sump pump won't last forever. Averaging about 10 years, you might not notice your sump pump has malfunctioned until it has stopped working.
Which type of sump pump is best?
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What are the four types of sump pumps?
Below, learn about the 4 types of sump pumps available and when to consider each type.Primary Sump Pumps. Primary sump pumps are the standard pumps found in many residences. ... Battery Backup Sump Pumps. ... Combination Sump Pump Systems. ... Sewage Pumps.
Do all basements need a sump pump?
Most basements have a sump pump but they may not be necessary in all homes. The answer depends on how your home and basement are built, as well as the level of ground water and soil in your neighborhood.
Where does the water from a sump pump go?
Your sump pump water should discharge to a designated area, such as a dry well, a creek or pond, or even a neighborhood drain. Be careful not to set your drain point somewhere that water will return to your home. Ideally, keep the pup 10 to 20 feet away from the foundation of your home.
What is the major disadvantage of submersible pump?
There are a few disadvantages with submersible pumps, and two have to do with the seal. The seals can become corroded with time. When that happens, water seeps into the motor, rendering it useless until it is repaired. Also, that seal makes the submersible pump a bit difficult to get into for repairs.
Can you leave a submersible pump plugged in?
Yes, you can keep it plugged in as long as the electronic switch is operating correctly. The pump will not activate when there is no water above 1¼”. You can keep the pump plugged in and walk away without causing issues to the motor.
What is the purpose of submersible pump?
A submersible pump is an air-tight sealed motor close-coupled to the pump body. The main advantage of this type of pump is that it prevents pump cavitation, a problem associated with a high elevation difference between pump and fluid surface.
What's better 1/3 hp or 1/2 HP sump pump?
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.
What kind of sump pump do I need for my basement?
If you live in an area that floods a lot, the . 5-hp or ¾ hp pump might be the best option, as it can remove 3,000 gallons of water or more per hour. For those who don't need a large sump pump, the . 25-hp motor is a good pick.
Can I replace a pedestal sump pump with a submersible sump pump?
A pedestal sump pump can be replaced with a submersible sump pump. The primary difference between the two types of sump pumps and their installation is that the pedestal pump places the motor at the end of a long shaft running through a pedestal column; the motor is above the water.
Should I avoid buying a house with a sump pump?
Sump Pumps are a Great Tool for Your Home Investing in a sump pump can save you a fortune on potential damages. Having a home that already comes with a sump pump is even better as buying one and installing it yourself can run a few hundred dollars.
What are the disadvantages of a submersible sump pump?
Drawbacks of submersible sump pumps 1 Corrosion: Can be more prone to corrosion 2 Reparation: it’s a hassle to check and repair a submersible sump pump, because you need to take it out of the pit. 3 Price: Typically more expensive than pedestal sump pumps 4 Lifetime: Submersible sump pumps typically need replacement twice or thrice as quick as a pedestal sump pump.
What is a sump pump?
As you know, any sump pump is designed to pump excess water out of your basement or crawl space at a fast enough rate to prevent unwanted flooding and water damage. But variables such as noise, price, corrosion and esthetics all vary sump pump to sump pump.
Why is a sump pump important?
Sump pumps are an important tool to keep basements and crawl spaces dry and usable. Taking the time to select the sump pump best suited for your situation and performing regular maintenance on your unit can help save your home or business from the devastating water damage that results from flooded basements and crawl spaces.
Why do pedestal sump pumps make noise?
Noise: Pedestal pumps make more sound due to their elevated motor. Warranty: Typically less years of use are warranted. Space: They’re harder to hide, may not be suitable for basements used as living space. Solid handling: Pedestal sump pumps are less well-equiped to handle solids.
How long do pedestal sump pumps last?
Lifetime: With some models running for up to 25 years, pedestal sump pumps last on average twice as long as submersible ones, or more. Ease of repair: Since the motor sticks out, it’s easy to check and repair. Corrosion: Less likely to corrode, or water getting into the motor.
Why do sump pumps sit on pedestals?
These pumps sit on a base, or pedestal, designed to keep their motor out of the water while the pump portion removes unwanted water down below. These sump pumps tend to be less powerful than their fully submersible counterparts, and can take up valuable space because they are not completely submerged below grade.
Which is better, a sump pump or a pedestal?
Solid Handling: Submersible sump pumps are better at handling solids, meaning that if it won’t get stuck as easily as a pedestal pump when there’s debris and small stones in the water.
How (both pedestal and submersible) sump pumps work in general
How sump pumps work is pretty straight forward. They collect water that is collected in a resevoir between your basement floor and the ground on which your house stands. This is called the sump pump pit (or short: sump pit), and all the water from around and underneath your house flows towards this pit.
Choosing a submersible or a pedestal sump pump
It is important to know the difference between submersible and pedestal pumps before making a decision on which one to get. One advantage that a submersible pump has over pedestal pumps is that the former requires less maintenance. This is because the pump is is more capable of handling solids such as small rocks and stones.
Final thoughts
Ultimately, the decision to go for a pedestal or a submersible sump pump is up to you. You now know that a pedestal sump pump is cheaper but makes more sound than a submersible sump pump. You’ve also learned that submersible sump pumps are better equipped for handling small rocks in the water and other solids.
Submersible Pumps
As the name implies, submersible pumps are submerged in water in the sump pit under your basement’s floor. Although pedestal pumps were originally standard for residences, it’s more common to find submersible pumps in today’s homes. One reason for this is because they don’t interfere with appliances, décor, or furniture.
Pedestal Pumps
On the other hand, pedestal pumps sit above your sump pit’s water. They come in two pieces: a hose that’s fed into the sump pit and a standalone motor that’s installed above the floor. If you have a narrow or shall sump pit, it’s better to use a pedestal sump pump because they don’t need much space.
About the Author: Austin Werner
Austin Werner is the Owner of The Real Seal LLC, a basement waterproofing and foundation repair company. Austin believes that having a highly trained and happy team is the key to success. This is reflected through hundreds of 5 star customer reviews his company has received online.
What are the two types of sump pumps?
The two main types of sump pumps are submersible and pedestal sump pumps. Like the name, a submersible pump is designed be submerged in water. The pedestal pump sits in the sump pit, but the motor is not designed to get wet so it sits outside the pit. fact the national credit.
Why is a submersible pump quieter than a pedestal pump?
Because the motor on a submersible is in the pit it is quieter than the pedestal pump. However, it is more expensive and if the pump fails it is harder to replace because it is stored deep inside the pit. The submersible pump does handle greater volumes of water and is built to handle solids or particles. The pedestal pump has a longer lifespan ...
Is a pedestal pump better than a submersible pump?
The pedestal pump has a longer lifespan than the submersible pump. They are known to last 2 to 5 times longer and are cheaper than a submersible pump. But they aren’t built to handle particles or solids of any kind.
Why do you need a sump pump?
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.
Why are sump pumps important?
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.
Why use float switches in sump pit?
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 email you if anything is going wrong with your sump pit.
What is the most important factor when determining which sump pump is best for your application?
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.
How many feet should a sump pump run?
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.
Is it better to oversize a sump pump or undersize?
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.
When dealing with higher GPM and longer pumping distances, special attention needs to be placed on choosing a proper?
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.
What is the difference between a sump pump and a sewage pump?
What separates sewage pumps from ordinary sump pumps / drainage pumps is their ability to handle larger solids.They can usually handle larger particles and solids up to 35mm (sometimes larger) that overflow from the septic tank.
How does a sewage pump work?
From the septic tank, the fluids overflow into the grey water tank/pump-out-pit. The sewage pump sits at the bottom of this tank/pit. As the tank/pit fills, it causes the float switch to stand up vertically, triggering the pump to turn on and empty the tank until the float switch lays horizontal again (floating on top of the fluid) which automatically switches the pump off.
What pump do you use to pump raw sewer?
To pump RAW SEWAGE use a Sewage Grinder Pump. If it is being used for a public venue then it would be best to use a Grinder Pump and not a Cutter Pump.
What happens when a tank fills?
As the tank/pit fills, it causes the float switch to stand up vertically, triggering the pump to turn on and empty the tank until the float switch lays horizontal again (floating on top of the fluid) which automatically switches the pump off.
What is a drain pump?
Drainage Pumps. Drainage pumps are usually used for draining clean water only, so the particle sizes are smaller than that of a sewage pump or sump pump. You can use drainage pumps to drain or pump fluids from many situations. There is even a Puddle Sucker Pump that will drain water down to a level of 2mm.
What is the best way to pump raw sewage?
To pump RAW SEWAGE use a Sewage Cutter Pump. A sewage cutter pump is similar to the grinder pump but can’t handle everything that may get flushed down a toilet. It can only handle raw sewage and toilet paper. This is why a cutter pump can be used for a household situation where you know what is going into the tank.
How does a float switch work?
The water flows to the tank or pit . As the tank/pit fills, it causes the float switch to stand up vertically, triggering the pump to turn on and empty the tank until the float switch lays horizontal again (floating on top of the water) which automatically switches the pump off.
