Submersible vs Pedestal Sump Pumps – Which One is Best!

If your house turns into a swamp after every drizzle, then you must be thinking of buying a sump pump. Thanks to this revolutionary machine you don’t have to manually get the water out of your house by carrying it in a bucket. A sump pump can propel gallons of water within a few minutes out of your house.

A flooded basement is a really dreadful sight to look at. All your valuable possessions, machines, tools, and furniture are bathed and drowned in water.

Buying the most appropriate one can never be easy without understanding the different types of sump pumps and what they are good for. One of the most confusing topics for all sump pump buyers is the debate of pedestal sump pumps vs submersible ones.

Pedestal vs Submersible Sump Pumps

pedestal sump pumps vs submersible
Featured Image: Submersible vs Pedestal Sump Pumps

Never heard these terms before? Don’t know what the difference is? Here I have brought to you all the details that you need to know regarding these two. Without further ado, let’s sink into the details.

What Is A Pedestal Sump Pump?

A pedestal sump pump is a non-submersible sump pump. It is a type of sump pump which is placed right on the floor of your basement. It has an elongated structure that is positioned like a pole on the ground. The sump pump is out of touch with the water until the basement is flooded with it. The float switch in this type of sump pump is a vertical switch that is hanging from the pump. The length of the vertical float switch can be set manually. So, when the water reaches the switch it initiates the pump to take the water out of the flooded basement. I have also covered a comparison between submersible & vertical sump pump.

What Is A Submersible Sump Pump?

A submersible sump pump is the one that works once it is placed inside the water that needs to be taken out. It means that if you want to transfer the water in your pool or fish tank, first you will have to place this sump pump in it. These types of sump pump when used for a flooded basement needs to be placed inside a hollow ditch in the basement ground. The float switch is also inside the basin, when the water level rises the switch triggers, and in turn, the pump starts propelling the water out.

Pedestal Sump Pumps vs Submersible
Comparison of Pedestal and Submersible Sump Pumps

Advantages of Pedestal Sump Pump

  1. The pedestal sump pumps have an elongated and sleek structure which makes them compatible with small and space-deficient places.
  2. These sump pumps are more durable because they are less likely to be corroded because their contact with water is lesser than that of submersible ones, who are soaked in water all the time.
  3. Installation process of the pedestal pumps is a lot easier and quicker.
  4. You don’t have to break your cement floor and dig a basin in it.
  5. The pedestal ones are a bang for your bucks as you don’t have to spend money on breaking the cement, digging a pit, or buying a basin cover.
  6. These pumps have affordable prices as compared to submersible ones.
  7. It is easy for you to repair and keep track of the working of these pumps as they are right in front of you. You don’t have to struggle to get it out to check it for any damage.

Advantages of Submersible Sump Pump

  1. The submersible sump pumps offer a higher flow rate as compared to pedestal ones.
  2. These sump pumps have a higher horsepower that allows them to provide high uplift pressure to get water out even from deeper places.
  3. These pumps don’t get heated easily because they are always drowned inside the hole that is filled with water, this means that your submersible pump will work for a much longer time as compared to non-submersible ones.
  4. If you don’t like the look of the pedestal pump that is standing on your basement floor, then you can always go for the submersible ones as these are positioned inside the basin, under the ground of the basement. You should remember that these might need more maintenance as compared to the pedestal ones.
  5. The submersible ones are quieter than the pedestal ones because the noise produced by the motor of these pumps is trapped inside the water-filled basin.
  6. These types of sump pumps are best to work under a large influx of water.

Pedestal vs submersible sump pump, which one is better?

Like any other invention in the world, these two types of sump pumps have their own cost and benefit. Each one of them has something special to offer. It depends on what you are expecting from the sump pumps you are going to buy. First, you will have to see what perks these pumps have to offer and if these perks are what suit your condition best, then you can make the right decision for your house.

Concluding Pedestal and Submersible Sump Pump Comparison

I hope that all these details about the pedestal and submersible sump pumps will help in finding the answer to the pedestal sump pumps vs submersible debate. Now that you know what are the pros and cons of these and when it is best to use them, it will be a lot easier for you to get the best suitable one for you.

If you want one which is affordable and doesn’t need frequent maintenance, then you should go for the pedestal ones. But if you want a powerful, quiet sump pump that can work up to several hours, even when there is a large influx of water, then the submersible ones are the best for you.


We participate in affiliate programs to help us fund MechanicsGear. Some of the links in this website are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product using our link, we will earn a small commission. Don’t worry! This comes at no additional cost to you, and we will never base our reviews on whether or not we earn a commission off of a product. With that said, if you find our review helpful and decide to purchase an item we review, we would be very appreciative if you use our links to do so. It will help us bring you more awesome content in the future!

Leave a Comment