How does a sump pump work?

- Anonymous

Posted on Jan 2, 2012 in Home & Living

basement home plumbing water

How does a sump pump work? How do they “know” when to start pumping? And what are these bits of plumbing and pipes usually needed for, anyway?

Sump-thing wicked this way comes

If you have a basement, you most likely have one of these little gems down there, keeping things dry. Sump pumps are used to remove water that accumulates in the catchment/sump basin in the basement — which can come from anywhere, like the water runoff from your basement waterproofing system or the runoff from your shower downstairs. They are also common where flooding occurs regularly, and placed where the water table is above the foundation of the house.

Pump up, don’t jam

The typical household sump pump is hard-wired to the house’s electrical system and often has a battery backup — helpful in the case of major flooding, which can often cause the power to go out. The pumps can either be a pedestal type, which sits above the sump basin (making it easier to service but taking up more space — and looking ugly) or a submersible, which actually sits in the sump basin (less conspicuous, but a pain in the rear to get at when it breaks).

So, how does it “know” when to turn on?

Well, some older pumps — and those used only to prevent basement flooding, not for everyday wastewater pumping, are completely manual. When the water starts coming in, you go downstairs and flip the switch. Pumps that run more regularly are automatic — they are triggered at a certain water level or pressure, usually via a float switch. When the float reaches a predetermined level, the pump kicks in, not unlike the float in a toilet that “tells” it when to stop filling.

Care and feeding of your sump pump

Whether you have an automatic or a manual sump pump, you need to keep it maintained to ensure it continues working correctly. Examine your pump at least once a year for failing or broken components and be sure to clean out any dirt, gravel, sand, or other debris to ensure proper operation. For more maintenance and troubleshooting tips, from check out these handy sump pump tips from the NDSU Extension Service.

Back up plans, in case of back-up

So what happens if you don’t notice things filling up downstairs and you don’t turn your manual pump on? Or what happens if the level sensor on your automatic pump fails — or if the pump just dies entirely? Would you like to know that water has crested out of the sump basin before you find out by discovering your new indoor swimming pool?

Easy. There are certainly commercial water level alarms available, but if you’re a DIY and money saving kind of person, you can make your own water alarm out of a smoke detector, a PVC coupler and a sponge. As long as you’re handy with a soldering iron, this project is an inexpensive and fun way to keep your basement dry. I actually built one for myself after a pump failure last summer left my basement damaged. The $10 in parts I spent on it sure beats my insurance deductible (again) in case of any more… incidents.

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