In the season of heavy rains, many houses with basements get flooded by water. This accumulation of unnecessary water is a nightmare for any house owner. The rising water levels in the constant rainy season are not just an extra workload but also leave you with structural damages. The fixing of these damages also requires a high repairing cost which not everyone can afford.
To fix this nuisance, engineers designed sump pumps. The sump pumps are devices designed to remove the water from your basement and move it out into the designated places. It is equipped with valves and meters which measure the levels of water and start moving it out.
How Far Will A Sump Pump Push Water
In this guide, I will briefly explain “How Far Will A Sump Pump Push Water”. I will go through the important details and give a detailed insight into this machine.
Types of Sump Pumps
Now it may seem that there is only one type of sump pump on the market but that is not true. There are four different types of sump pumps with their own distinct features. Let’s see what they are;
1. Submersible Sump Pumps
Submersible pump and motor are in one unit. These are installed in the basin of your basement, like the name says they are submerged. These are installed this way to save up more space and are quieter as compared to other pumps. They also clog less and are the best options for flooding concerns. But these pumps are not long-lasting due to the effects of water submersion.
2. Battery-Operated Pumps
These pumps provide good security during floods. If you do not have electricity, you can use the backup battery sump pump which comes with a float switch. When the electricity goes out as the water level rises in the basin, the float switch gets triggered and the pump starts its action.
3. Pedestal Sump Pumps
This sump pump consists of a separate pump and motor. In pedestal sump pump, the motor sits over the pedestal over the basin, and the hose runs to the basin where the pump is placed. The whole sump pump is designed to send the flood water to the drain area via the hose. This pump has more life span as it is not submerged in the water but is louder and can take up more space.
4. Water-powered Backup
This sump pump system drains the water into the basin by increasing the water pressure. Among all three other sump pump systems, the benefit of water-powered backup sump pump is that you do not need to monitor to get the water drained. Though the use of water to drain the water does affect your bill but in the end, it is your choice whether you opt for it or not.
Types of Sump Pump Switches
Sump pumps are designed to operate on switch systems. These systems allow the pumps to operate independently and easily when turned on. Following are the several types of sump pump switches that operate differently from one another;
- Electronic Switch: This works by sensing water pressure in the basin, and with the rise of water level the switch turns on.
- Pressure Switch: This switch is triggered by the rise of water pressure.
- Tethered Float Switch: This is tied to the pump in the basin, as the water level rises and it floats to its maximum height it gets triggered and starts the pump.
- Diaphragm Switch: This switch works just like your diaphragm, as the pressure rises on the flipped concave’s back, the switch gets triggered and turns on the pump.
- Vertical Float Switch: This is a magnetic switch that floats up and down as the water level rises and drops. If it rises above level, it turns on and then turns off when the rod lowers.
How Far Should the Water be Pumped
The sump pumps are designed to push the water 7 to 10 feet away if it is in a vertical lift. You can achieve this via a 1/3 Horsepower motor. If the sump pump is attached with a horizontal lift at a 90 degrees elbow then it can push the water up to 3 to 25 feet. A pump of 3/4 is 20 to 25% stronger than a 1/2 and 1/3 HP pump and can push water up to 20-25 feet in vertical lift and 150-250 feet in a horizontal lift.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the water go after the sump pump?
The discharged water should be pushed at least 10 feet away from the house, it is better to push it 20 feet away. The water should be pushed into the proper drainage system to keep it from coming back.
Can the sump pump be too powerful?
The sump pump should not be either too small or too powerful If the sump pump is too small, it will not be able to drain the water properly. If you get a too-powerful sump pump, it will start and stop too much causing a motor failure.
At what depth a submersible pump should be installed?
The submersible pump should be installed at 1.5 meters meaning no less than 5 feet away from the well for a proper water-pushing system.
Final Thoughts
When buying a sump pump, it is recommended to be aware of what type of pump you need and of what size. These pumps are designed to be effective at removing water from homes, factories, etc. It is better to be aware of at which height you need to install it and where to drain the extra water for its proper functioning.
Adam Wilson is the plumbing products Editor for Mechanics Gear, covering everything related to plumbing. He have 15 years of experience as a plumber and written about plumbing gear for over two years and plans to continue writing for a long while to come. Since he started sharing his plumbing knowledge on Mechanics Gear, he loves nothing more than relaxing in his home and and writing his plumbing experiences. Adam Wilson likes finding new plumbing products and dive into, from manuals, forums and different plumbing groups.