Sump Pumps

Sump pumps remove groundwater that accumulates in your basement to the outside of your home. This prevents dampness and even flooding in your basement which can cause mold and damage to your home’s structure or to your belongings. The water is usually drawn from a “sump pit” which is poured as the lowest level of your basement. If you have an older home you may find that you don’t have a sump pit or sump pump at all.

Several different types of sump pumps can be commonly found in homes. The first is the pedestal pump which runs on electricity. The electric motor is mounted up high and the pump itself is mounted inside the sump pit. This style of pump is very affordable, long lasting, and easy to repair. Consequently this is probably the most common type seen.

The second type of sump pump is the submersible variety. In this style, the pump and electric motor are mounted together in a waterproof housing and installed directly in the sump pit. The advantage to this arrangement is less noise because the unit is submerged completely underwater.

The last type of sump pump is the water powered variety. In this arrangement, the pump is powered by your home’s water supply. As the water passes through an ejector, it draws water up from the sump pit and takes it out as well. The obvious advantage to this system is that it will work even if the power fails in your home. It could also save you money because no electricity is used but this will depend upon the cost of water in your area.

Any of the above types will rely on some kind of switching for operation. This is commonly a float and rod that activates a microswitch when the water level rises. When the level drops again so does the float and the pump shuts off. A diaphragm switch is activated by pressure and is often found on submersible pumps. A tethered float operates similarly to a float and rod but the float moves around more freely.

If you have any questions regarding sump pumps give Mies Plumbing a call. We’ll make sure your basement doesn’t leave you all wet.