Sump Pump
A sump pump is a pump set in a basin (the sump pit) at the low point of a basement or crawl space that automatically removes groundwater before it floods the floor.
Groundwater collects in a pit, and when the water rises to a set level a float switch turns the pump on. The pump pushes the water up a discharge pipe and out beyond the foundation, then shuts off once the pit drains. Most homes with finished basements or high water tables rely on one, and many never think about it until a heavy storm proves it has quit.
There are two common body styles. A submersible pump sits down inside the pit and runs quietly underwater. A pedestal pump keeps the motor up on a shaft above the pit, which is easier to service but louder. Either way the working parts are the motor, the impeller that moves the water, the float switch that senses the level, and a check valve on the discharge line that stops drained water from running back into the pit.
Because the whole system protects against flooding only when the power is on, many homeowners add a battery backup pump or a water-powered backup for storm outages. A typical primary pump lasts about 7 to 10 years, so the float and check valve are worth testing each spring before the wet season.
Talking to a contractor about this?
Run the project past a licensed plumbing pro first. Calls are answered around the clock and routed to a pro serving your area.
- Well Pump (Submersible & Jet) : A well pump is the motorized pump that draws water from a private well and pushes it into the home’s plumbing, either lowered deep inside the well casing or mounted above ground.
- Well Pressure Tank : A well pressure tank stores pressurized water and a cushion of air so the well pump does not have to switch on every time a faucet is opened.
- Grinder Pump : A grinder pump shreds household waste into a slurry and pumps it under pressure to a sewer or septic line, used where the distance or uphill run is too much for a standard ejector pump.