Everything You Need to Know About the Best Sump Pumps

What is a sump pump?

A sump is a pit under your basement floor. Its purpose is to prevent your basement from flooding. When the sump becomes too full, the sump pump comes into play. A sump pump removes the water from the pit and away from your home.

Sump pumps usually possess a float switch that will turn the pump on when it floats to a certain height. Then, when the water has drained enough, the switch will move back down and turn the pump off.

Alternatively, a sump pump may have a pressure sensor that turns on when enough pressure builds due to the water and turns off when the pressure relinquishes to a suitable level.

Internal pipes lead the excess water to an outside drain. These pipes contain valves that prevent the water from moving back up the pipes.

Things to consider when choosing a sump pump

Choosing the best sump pump for your needs might seem like a daunting task. However, by considering the following factors, you will find the perfect product in no time.

How much horsepower do you need?

To figure out what horsepower you need, work out how much water you need to pump per hour and how high you need the water pumped to get out of the basement. The further the water needs to be pumped, the less water it will pump per hour.

A higher horsepower sump pump will use more electricity and therefore cost more to run. If you opt for a sump pump with high horsepower, you may need a wider discharge pipe to accommodate the increased water flow.

Submersible or pedestal pump

Submersible pumps are reliable and have plenty of horsepower to pump out large amounts of water to keep your basement dry. If you have a shallow basement prone to flooding, the best pump for a basement like this is a submersible pump.

A pedestal pump is noisy and sticks out above the ground. Therefore, it does not perform as well as a submersible pump. However, a pedestal pump is less expensive and easier to reach and repair than a submersible pump. Due to it being predominantly above the water, a pedestal pump is also less likely to rust.

If you can afford the extra expense, we recommend buying a submersible pump simply because it will outperform a pedestal pump.

Combination sump pump

A combination sump pump has a backup pump that starts working when there is a power outage. The spare sump pump runs on a large battery. A regular pump needs electricity to work.

Manual sump pump

You may want to purchase a manual sump pump. A manual sump pump is activated by plugging its power cord into an electrical outlet. These pumps are mostly used for manually draining basements, pools, and similar applications. Consider coupling a manual sump pump with a piggyback switch to allow for automatic operation.

Automatic sump pump

An automatic sump pump has a switch or float that automatically turns the pump on when water reaches a certain level. This switch can be activated by reaching a certain height or by the amount of pressure applied due to large amounts of water. The switch will automatically turn the pump off when the water reduces to an acceptable level.

Most people opt for an automatic sump pump because it saves you from going down into a wet basement. It will also take care of excess water when you are not home.

Electronic or diaphragm switches

An alternative to a floating switch is an electronic or diaphragm switch. These switches register the levels of water via metal probes. When water touches the probe, it turns the pump on. Likewise, when water no longer touches the off probe, the pump will turn off.

The benefit of using this type of switch is the lack of moving parts. A floating switch can get stuck and prevent the pump from turning on or off. With an electrical or diaphragm switch, you will not have this problem.

An issue that may arise with an electrical switch is that if your water contains a lot of calcium, it will cause a layer of buildup on the probes, which will affect their ability to feel the water.

Basin diameter

Measure the diameter of your sump pit at its narrowest point. If you buy a sump pump with a wide-angle switch, you must ensure that the switch has enough space to maneuver. If the switch gets stuck on the wall, the pump won’t turn off, and you will have a large electricity bill to pay. Even worse, it could get stuck on the wall on the way up and won’t turn the sump pump on, allowing flooding and a lot of damage.

Power cord length

The power cord needs to be long enough to reach a power socket without using an extension lead. Measure the distance between your sump pit and the power socket to ensure you buy the right length of cord.

Customer reviews

To ensure you get the best product possible, read the customer reviews of the sump pump you want to buy. With so many products on the market, you can afford to only buy a sump pump with predominantly positive reviews.

Warranty

Make sure the sump pump you choose has a long warranty that covers all the sump pump parts. A manufacturer that provides a long warranty has faith in the quality of its product.

How we choose the best sump pump

To choose the best sump pump, we consider how much water the device can pump up per hour, how far it can pump the water, its power source, and the switch type. We also considered whether the pump is good-value-for money. We read countless verified customer reviews to ensure we only recommend the most reliable and popular products, and we only recommend products we would purchase ourselves.

Sump pump price range

When purchasing a sump pump, you should budget between $40 and $800. This is a large price range, but the price you pay really depends on how much water you need to pump and how quickly you need to do so.

Sump Pump FAQ

Q: Is it ok to drain my laundry softener into my sump basin?

A: It is not recommended that you drain your laundry softener into your sump basin because the chemicals and debris can affect probes and floats from turning the sump pump on and off.

Q: Can I use a sump pump for a pond, waterfall, or garden aeration?

A: No, you should not use a sump pump for a pond, waterfall, or garden aeration. A sump pump is not designed to run continuously. It may overheat and break. In addition, the oil from the sump pump will likely kill animal and plant life in your pond.

Q: Why won’t my sump pump stop working?

A: If your sump pump stops working, it is most likely because a switch is stuck in the on position. If your sump pump uses a float switch, it is probably stuck on something preventing it from moving downwards. If your sump pump uses an electrical switch, it may have a build-up of chemicals preventing the off switch from registering a lack of water.