SUMP PUMP REPAIR & REPLACEMENT

How Do I Know What Type of Sump Pump I Have?

ng the right sump pump for your home will keep pump failures, flooded basements, and other ground water hazards to a minimum. There are two common types of sump pumps: pedestal and submersible.

• Pedestal sump pumps are built with their motors on top of a long shaft with the intent on keeping the motor above water level. These pumps are often cheaper as lesser quality materials can be uses to produce the motor without any concern about keeping water out of it. These pups can be a necessity when the sump pump pit has a very small diameter
• Submersible sump pumps are designed to sit in the base of the sump pump pit, below water level. Submersible pumps are often constructed out of heavy metal as they are engineered to a higher standard due to the desire to protect the pump from the water it sits in. Submersible sump pumps tend to be quieter than their pedestal counterparts.

Sump pumps are built with an automatic on/off switch, typically a float-switch that remains floating on top the water level as water rises and recedes in the sump pump pit. Once the float rises high enough, the pump activates to discharge water out and away from your home. Higher quality sump pumps are equipped with a stem-mounted float switch that helps to reduce the possibility of failure from the float getting “hung up”, a common problem with lesser quality tethered float switches.

Should I Invest in a Back-Up Sump Pump?

A back-up sump pump can help to add a level of protection against water damage to your home. Back-up sump pumps are installed to activate only once the water level in the pit has risen above the level that the primary pump should be activated. This way, whether the primary pump is not getting power due to a power outage or is no longer operating and needs replaced, the back-up pump will begin to discharge water from your home before the pit overflows and starts to flood the space around it. There are two types of back-up sump pumps: battery powered and water powered.

• Battery powered back-up sump pumps utilize an electrical outlet to maintain the charge on a battery for use when water level rises above the level of the primary pump getting activated. The maintenance and eventual replacement of the battery and the battery charging system is a necessity with these pumps.
• Water powered back-up sump pumps utilize the water pressure delivered to your home from your municipality to move ground water. These back up pumps activate once the water level in the pit rises above the level of the primary pump getting activated, the same as a battery powered pump. Water powered back up pumps do not require maintenance or replacement of a battery and battery charger, but should not be used on well water systems.

When the cause of a wet basement can be difficult and costly to diagnose and fix, an upgrade to your sump pump system is always an economical way to ease your mind. Delaware Plumbing Professionals is stocked and prepared to provide the right pump solution for your individual needs.