The most efficient and effective way to extract excess water from your basement or crawl space is with a sump pump. Whether you have a basement prone to flooding or flooding due to heavy rain, your sump pump is an essential appliance that automatically draws water out and sends it to a nearby drain. There are several factors to consider in order to choose the right sump pump for your home, such as type, size, power supply, installation, and draining. Read on to learn how to select the best sump pump for your basement.

ABOUT SUMP PUMPS

Sump pumps are triggered by rising water and turn on automatically to remove the water from your basement or crawl space. The water is sent to a nearby drain or well. In addition to protecting your home from flooding, sump pumps also help prevent mold and mildew proliferation and protect your belongings. Following are reasons to install or replace your sump pump:

  • You have an outdated pedestal sump pump.
  • Your pump runs for long periods of time.
  • You hear rattling or grinding noises.
  • The pump turns on and off frequently.
  • The pump doesn’t turn on when it should.

SELECTING THE RIGHT SUMP PUMP

Sump Pump Design

You basically have two choices when selecting the type of sump pump for your St. Cloud home: pedestal or submersible. A pedestal sump pump sits on a pedestal above water level. They’re less expensive to purchase than a submersible type. However, pedestal sump pumps make more noise, are less powerful, and have a larger footprint than submersible sump pumps. Submersible pumps are lower profile, more powerful than pedestal sump pumps, but cost more.

Horsepower

Most sump pumps are ⅓ horsepower (HP). If you are generally dealing with a smaller amount of water, a ¼ HP or ⅓ HP sump pump should suffice. If your home is prone to greater amounts of water, you may want to go with a ½ HP pump.

Head Pressure

Head pressure is the term used to describe how high a sump pump needs to pump water up to ground level. You will need to know the height of your basement in order to get the correct head pressure for your sump pump. The typical sump pump can pump water out at least 10 feet. Though, you may want to consult your plumbing company to determine what pressure head suits your needs.

Manual or Automatic?

Most sump pumps are designed to turn on automatically using a float valve. Even though the design and purpose of a sump pump may be clear to pump out water automatically, there are sump pumps that must be turned on manually. For convenience and all practical purposes of saving your home from water damage, choose a sump pump that turns on automatically.

Power Outlet

Ideally, you want your sump pump located near a GFCI-protected wall outlet. You should not use an extension cord with your sump pump. So, be sure to select a sump pump with a cord long enough to reach a GFCI-protected outlet. If you don’t have a GFCI-protected outlet nearby, consider having one installed.

Voltage

For residential purposes, a standard 110-volt circuit is fine. If you are using a sump pump for commercial purposes, it may be better to have a dedicated circuit and higher voltage.

Backup System

If a storm is strong enough to flood your home, it may be strong enough to knock out power. So, it’s important to have a sump pump with an alarm and a battery backup power source. Otherwise your sump pump is useless.

PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION

Correctly installing a sump pump may require the help of a professional. It’s certainly more involved than simply plugging it in and turning it on. For the best results which could save your home from flooding, speak with a plumbing professional to help you select and install the right sump pump for your home. You’ll need a professional’s help to run the sump pump to a drain or well, and if you’re going to need a sump installed, it’s best left to the pros.

For the best results selecting and installing a sump pump for your St. Cloud home, contact the pros at Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup. In fact, call on us for all your plumbing needs (320) 207-1079!