Components for Your Home’s Sump Pump
Modern sump pump components are standardized and consist of:
- A plastic, metal, or concrete container forming a sump basin, approximately 2 feet (0.6 meters) across and 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 1 meter) deep, 15 to 25 U.S. gallons (60- to 100-liter) capacity
- A sump pump, either one-third or one-half horsepower (200 or 400 W), either battery or mains powered (or both)
Backup Components for your Orange County Sump Pump
A secondary, battery-powered sump pump can operate if the primary sump pump goes out. A battery-powered sump pump requires the following components in parallel with the others above:
- A 12-volt battery sump pump with its water level sensor, piping, and check valve (the pipes usually join after the check valves to prevent reverse flow through the primary when the secondary unit is pumping).
- It must be a marine deep cycle battery or a long-life standby battery. Standard automobile batteries are not suitable for this application. Auto batteries are designed to deliver a high current for a short period. Sump pumps need a smaller, smoother current for a much longer time.
- A trickle-charge battery charger can alternately have a specialized controller to manage, monitor, and test that the battery is holding a charge.
Alternative sump pump systems can be driven by municipal water pressure. Water-powered sump pumps are similar to backup battery-driven systems with separate pump, float, and check valves. One can also use an ejector pump that uses an ordinary garden hose to supply high-pressure water and another garden hose to carry the water away. Although such an ejector pumps wastewater and is relatively inefficient, they have the advantage of having no moving parts and offer the utmost in reliability.
If the backup sump system is rarely used, a component failure may not be noticed, and the system may fail when needed. Some battery control units test the system periodically and alert on failed electrical components.
A simple, battery-powered water alarm can be hung a short distance below the top of the sump to sound an alarm should the water level rise too high.
Benefits of Sump Pump Installation for your Orange County Home
A sump pump is a pump used to remove water that has accumulated in a water-collecting sump basin, commonly found in the basement of homes. The water may enter via the perimeter drains of a basement waterproofing system, funneling into the basin, or because of rain or natural groundwater if the basement is below the water table level.
What Are Sump Pumps Used For?
Sump pumps are used when basement flooding happens regularly and to remedy dampness where the water table is above the foundation of a home. Sump pumps send water away from a house to any place where it is no longer problematic, such as a municipal storm drain or a dry well.
Pumps may discharge to the sanitary sewer in older installations. Once considered acceptable, this practice may now violate the plumbing code or municipal bylaws because it can overwhelm the municipal sewage treatment system. Municipalities urge homeowners to disconnect and reroute sump pump discharge away from sanitary sewers. Fines may be imposed for noncompliance. Many homeowners have inherited their sump pump configurations and do not realize that the pump discharges to the sewer. If the discharge is fed to a laundry sink in the basement, it’s likely going to the sewer.
Usually hardwired into a home’s electrical system, sump pumps may have a battery backup. The home’s pressurized water supply powers some pumps, eliminating the need for electricity at the expense of using potable water, potentially making them more expensive to operate than electrical pumps, and creating an additional water disposal problem. Since a sump basin may overflow if not constantly pumped, a backup system is important for cases in which the main power is out for prolonged periods, such as during a severe storm.
Usually hardwired into a home’s electrical system, sump pumps may have a battery backup. The home’s pressurized water supply powers some pumps, eliminating the need for electricity at the expense of using potable water, potentially making them more expensive to operate than electrical pumps, and creating an additional water disposal problem. Since a sump basin may overflow if not constantly pumped, a backup system is important for cases in which the main power is out for prolonged periods, such as during a severe storm.
There are generally two types of sump pumps — pedestal and submersible. The pedestal pump’s motor is mounted above the sump, where it is more easily serviced but also more conspicuous. The pump impeller is driven by a long, vertical extension shaft, and the impeller is in a scroll housing at the base of the pump. The submersible pump is entirely mounted inside the sump and is specially sealed to prevent electrical short circuits.
Sump pump systems are also utilized in industrial and commercial applications to control water table-related problems in surface soil. An artesian aquifer or periodic high water table situation can cause the ground to become unstable due to water saturation. As long as the pump functions, the surface soil will remain stable. These sumps are typically 10 feet in depth or more, lined with a corrugated metal pipe that contains perforations or drain holes throughout. They may include electronic control systems with visual and audible alarms and are usually covered to prevent debris and animals from falling in.
If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of installing a sump pump in your San Clemente and Orange County home, contact the experts at Bill Metzger Plumbing today by calling or scheduling a consultation online!
Testing your Sump Pump for Optimal Performance
Makes sure your sump pump is working with this easy test:
- Lift the lid off the sump pit and slowly pour in water.
- The float should rise, triggering the motor.
- The pump should run long enough to lower the water level and click off.
- If you add water and nothing happens, your pump may need service.
Sump Pump Battery Backup Installation
If you have a sump pump that has always worked, you probably don’t appreciate it as much as you should. Heavy thunderstorms are not only common but expected. During thunderstorms, high winds and lightning tend to knock out power. Unfortunately, sump pumps don’t work without electricity. Ironically, the time you need your sump pump the most may be the time it doesn’t work. That’s why you need a sump pump battery backup system.
A backup sump pump is designed to start working when your main sump pump stops. Or it can work in tandem with your main pump when the volume is extremely heavy. The battery backup even has an alarm that goes off if there are any problems with the battery, connections, or a clogged pump. After all, a backup sump pump system with a dead battery, loose cables, or clogged pump is like having no backup at all. The backup sump pump protects against loss of power, primary pump failure, excessive water inflow, and float switch failures.
All Backup Sump Pumps Offer:
- Automatic operation and charging
- Monitoring of battery and pump conditions
- Monitoring of the battery fluid level
- Dual float switches
- Easy installation
- Reliability backed by a three-year warranty
Backup Sump Pumps Sound an Alarm When:
- Power is out, or the circuit breaker has blown
- Battery fluid is low, and water needs to be added
- Battery is dead, defective, or battery terminals need to be cleaned
- Pump was activated
If you’re having trouble with your home’s sump pump system or need help testing your sump pump to make sure it’s working effectively, give the team at Bill Metzger Plumbing a call. We will walk you through the steps to test your system to ensure it’s working hard to keep your home safe. Call us or schedule your sump pump services online today!
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