What Are the Kinds of Sump Pumps?
Homeowners can save thousands of dollars by adding a sump pump to the basement of their home. Whenever there is dampness caused by flooding or a malfunction with the plumbing system, the basement tends to be the first room that is affected. The sump pump will collect excess water and pump it through piping that is directed away from the home. Deciding on what kind of sump pump for your home is essential. Does this Spark an idea?
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The Facts
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There are multiple kinds of sump pumps, including the submersible and the pedestal. The submersible pump combines a waterproof motor and the pump inside the sump as one unit. The pedestal (also known as the upright), has the pump inside of the sump, with the motor mounted on top of a column above the floor of the basement. Both pumps are connected to a pipe.
Function
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Sump pumps are a simple solution to flooding problems in your basement. The pump is placed in a man-made hole (a sump pit). Whenever rainfall or snowmelt causes the groundwater levels to rise, the hole will suffuse with water, causing the sump pump to activate by a float-switch. The pump then sends the groundwater up through a pipe outlet that stretches at least 20 feet away from your house.
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Types
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Submersible and pedestal are the electric types. Water-powered pumps specifically are only powered by water. It runs off the water pressure from your home plumbing system and is activated by the same float-switch as the electric types. A floor sucker pump is a new type of pump that does not contain a sump pit. Its purpose is to remove water down to within 1/8 inch of the floor. It can be operated either automatically or manually.
Considerations
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Cleaning the sump pumps is highly recommended for it to last several years. According to Irvingsplumbing.com in an article about sump pumps, it suggests you remove any dirt, gravel or sand that is brought in by the excess water every four to five years. If you live in a sandy or muddy habitat, consider cleaning it annually.
Prevention/Solution
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If you do not check on your sump pump regularly to see if it is working properly, then you might experience a problem, usually with the float device. If the pump ever refuses to start, the float may be hanging on something in the tank. Most of the time you can solve the problem by repositioning the float. If it still doesn't start, you most likely need to replace it.
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