How Much Electricity Does A Sump Pump Use?

Different types of sump pumps have different electricity requirements and therefore, motor power plays a key role when it comes to the usage of electricity. Higher motor power often leads to increased electricity usage and vice versa. Therefore, this is the first factor that you should look for while monitoring electricity usage.

How Much Electricity Does A Sump Pump Use

Along with this, you can also look into the clogging of the drains and the frequency of pump restart. This article offers you some insights into how much electricity a sump pump use, alongside some recommendations to decrease electricity usage.

How Much Electricity Does A Sump Pump Use?

How Much Electricity Does A Sump Pump Use
Infographic: How Much Electricity Does A Sump Pump Use

Measurement Using Horsepower

The amount of electricity consumed by a sump pump is directly dependent upon its motor power which is generally measured in the Horsepower or HP. Horsepower is the most common unit of measurement and is directly proportional to the amount of electricity consumed during the operation which in our case is the pumping of water.

Though it must be kept in mind that the sump power uses power even if it is not doing any work. Though the rate of consumption might vary in both cases. So, as a general rule of thumb, higher horsepower increases the electricity consumption and vice versa. Therefore, you should always consider horsepower if you are interested in measuring the use of electricity by a sump pump.

Horsepower and Cost of Electricity

Now, Horsepower can also significantly contribute to the increase and decrease in the monthly electricity bill as well so choose the sump pump by hp. Because increased electricity consumption is associated with higher motor power, which leads to higher costs as well.

Typically a decent motor power around 1/3 or 1/4 Horsepower can cost you around $10 to $20 around the end of the month depending upon the usage of the sump pump. The cost might decrease a little bit if you are not using the pump to suck out the water from the ground and it is only consuming a small amount of motor power. Also, check out how many amps does a sump pump draw.

How Can I Prevent Excessive Electricity Usage?

How Can I Prevent Excessive Electricity Usage

Prevent the Repeated Starting of the Pump

There are different ways to prevent increased electricity use. The first one is to prevent the repeated starting of the pump in most cases, due to excessive power usage. This can be carried out by forcing the motor to run for a long time by monitoring and modifying the drain rate and working mechanism of the valves. The longer-run would reduce the need for you to start the motor again and again in order to complete the task and will also decrease the electricity required for this purpose or choose the sump pump according to volts consumed by it.

Clogging of Drainage

Sometimes clogging in the drainage zone can also force the motor to increase the power required for pumping the water. This is mostly because of the clogged material that is stopping the water from moving forward and therefore, a higher force is required to force the water out of the drainage pipes. Thus, amplifying the rate of electricity use. Checking out clogging and cleaning the drainage systems on a regular basis can prevent the problem significantly.

Summing Up Electricity Consumption Due to Using Sump Pump

A monthly electricity bill can definitely scare you if you are unaware of the electricity you have been using for pumping the water. Thus, we have brought you a brief guide on how to monitor your electricity consumption when using a sump pump. It is important to consider the motor power for monitoring the electricity and regularly checking for the clogging of drains to reduce the overall electricity use.


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