Did you buy a house with a sump pump and need to know more about the sump pump components?
Are you thinking of buying a sump pump for the first time?
Well, you are in the right place, so keep reading.
Table of Contents
The Essential Sump Pump Components
The minimum sump pump components needed to install a primary sump pump includes a sump pump basin to place the pump in. Plus the float and a float switch that come with a sump pump. Then there is the discharge pipe that gets the water out of the house. This is NOT an ideal setup and I am surprised at how often this is all there is in many homes.
As you read through the article you will discover the other sump pump components that will make life easier and safer for the house and the family.
Here is a list of primary sump pump and backup sump pump components and what they do:
Sump Pits and Basins
A sump pit is the hole dug under the basement floor where water is collected. Normally there is a perforated tube that directs the water from basement walls to the sump pit.
A plastic sump basin is placed inside of the sump pit. The basin has numerous small holes in it to help collect water from under the basement floor.
Not always, but preferably, there is a landscape fabric placed around the outside of the sump basin. Its job is to keep dirt from flowing into the basin. That dirt is hard on the sump pump and can make it fail sooner rather than later.
Must I Buy a Sump Pump Basin with Holes? Are Holes Needed?
Sump Pump Covers
These plastic covers help keep children, pets, toys, and dirt out of the sump basin.
The less expensive ones have a wide slot for the pipes and power cords to exit the sump basin.
More elaborate sump pump covers have various holes in the cover for pipes and power cords.
The best sump pump covers provide an air tight seal that permits radon gas to collect in the sump basin and be discharged out the discharge pipe. Obviously, these sump pump lids also keep out the children and dirt.
Sump Pump Stand
Most sump pump suck water from the bottom of the sump pump. Unfortunately, that is where sand and dirt collects over time. You don’t want that abrasive dirt clogging up the pumps impeller or wearing out the impeller.
Many homeowners place their sump pump on top of some rocks or bricks but using a sump pump stand is a much better option. Rocks can get jammed in the pump’s impeller and burn out the motor.
Also, the space between the rocks or bricks can fill up with dirt much faster than when using a sump pump stand. All of which lowers the volume of water that can be collected in the sump basin.
The Primary Sump Pump
The primary sump pump is the first line of defense against basement flooding. It is responsible for pumping water out of the sump pit and away from your home. The primary sump pump is powered by 115-volt house current.
The size of the pump is determined by how much water must be removed per hour. The most commonly used size is a 1/3 HP sump pump. Read my Zoeller M53 review.
The Backup Sump Pump
I can’t tell you how important having a backup sump pump is to keep your home safe and dry. In my opinion it is one of the essential sump pump components.
The backup sump pump is a secondary pump that kicks in when the primary pump fails or is unable to keep up with the water inflow. Typically, they are a smaller horsepower than the primary sump pump.
Backup sump pumps can be powered by batteries, water pressure, or generators. They are typically installed above the primary pump in the sump basin.
Read my review: Zoeller 508-0014 Aquanot Battery Backup Sump Pump: free WiFi
Battery and Generator Systems
12-volt battery and 115-volt generator systems are used to power the backup sump pump in the event of a power outage. Battery backup systems are the most common and are designed to provide power for several hours or even days, depending on the capacity of the battery.
Generator systems are a more permanent solution and can provide power for as long as there is fuel for the generator.
Read: How Does a Battery Backup Sump Pump Work? A Simple Guide
Water-Powered Backup Systems
Of the all of the sump pump components, waterpowered sump pumps are the most dependable while being the least expensive to own and maintain over the years.
Water-powered backup systems are another option for backup sump pump systems. These systems use the pressure from the municipal water supply to power the backup pump.
Water-powered backup systems are typically less expensive than battery or generator systems, but they may not be usable in areas with low water pressure. Lower water pressure means that less water can be pumped per hour.
Also, they generally do not equal the pumping capacity of the 1/3 HP primary sump pumps. This is true even when municipal water pressure is high enough to fully power the pump.
Sump Pump Floats
These come in various shapes and are generally made of plastic. The floats can be hollow or made of solid foam. The solid foam floats cannot fill with water like the hollow ones can. A water filled float will not activate the switch to turn the pump on.
Vertical floats ride up and down a metal rod. Which avoids the float from getting tangled in the power cords like tethered floats do.
Many floats are of the tethered type, where they are attached at the end of an electrical tether.
Types of Float Switches
Of all of the sump pump components, no matter what brands you buy, the switches are the first thing to fail.
The float switch is a separate device from the float. The float activates the switch to turn the pump motor on and off.
Float switches are used to activate the primary and backup sump pumps when the water level in the sump pit rises above a certain level.
There are two main types of float switches: vertical and tethered. Vertical float switches are more reliable and are less likely to get tangled in power cords. While tethered float switches are more affordable and easier to get tangled in power cords.
A third type of switch is the pressure switch. Which is a diaphragm that moves up and down with the rise and fall of water in the sump basin.
Alarms and WiFi Notifications
WiFi notifications are often an optional component that can be added to a backup sump pump system to alert you when the backup pump is activated or when there is a problem with the system.
Alarms can be audible or visual, while WiFi notifications can be sent to your smartphone or tablet.
Backup Sump Pump Controllers and Battery Chargers
The controller and battery charger sump pump components are what make life easier for homeoners.
Battery powered backup sump pumps have a controller that monitors the pump system that sets off the alarms and sends the WiFi notifications.
The controller also makes sure that the battery charger keeps the battery fully charged. The more sophisticated controllers will notify owners when the battery or sump pumps need to be replaced before they fail.
Discharge Pipe and Check Valve
The discharge pipe is how the pump pushes the water out of the house and into the yard. Just above the sump pump is the one-way check valve.
A check valve is a one-way valve that prevents water from flowing back into the sump pit once it has been pumped out.
This is an important component of any sump pump system. It prevents water in the discharge pipe from flowing back into the sump pit, which would need to be pumped out again.
These two sump pump components are major sources of noise as the pumps are running. Be sure to buy a check valve that is designed to operate quietly. If the sound of water rushing through the pipe bothers you, wrap the pipe with foam insulation.
Conclusions
In summary, a primary sump pump and a backup sump pump are the essential sump pump components needed by any home that is at risk of flooding. The other sump pump components are needed to support the primary and backup pumps so they can do their jobs.
All backup sump pump systems have loud alarms and/or LED light indicators. However, buying a backup sump pump that includes WiFi notifications is an intelligent decision. Of all of the sump pump components, being notified of a problem when away from home is more than worth the addional expense.
Author at Best Sump Pumps
The first time I helped to install a drain tile and basement sump pump system was 1978.
Since then I have worked for a city water utility where I worked with and maintained pumps.
My rental properties and personal homes all needed sump pumps.
As a modular home dealer/builder, those new homes needed sump pumps.
I put that experience to good use by providing reliable, useful, and practical advice on buying, using, and maintaining sump pumps.