Sump pumps are used in applications where excess water must be pumped away from a particular area. They generally sit in a basin or sump that collects this excess water, hence the name basin sump pump, or simply sump pump. While most people are familiar with sump pumps due to their high level of residential use, “sump pumps” in this context purely refers to the industrial styles.

Types of Sump Pumps

Sump pumps, in general, head up a category that encompasses a number of pump styles that are used to pump out collected fluid. This classification includes:

• bilge and ballast pumps
• centrifugal pumps
• cantilever pumps
• sewage pumps
• submersible sump pumps
• utility pumps

All of these styles may be driven by any of the following power sources, AC power, DC power, hydraulic actuation, or water powered sump pumps.

Specifications

When selecting between the available styles of sump pumps, the most important specifications to consider include:

• the size of the pump and the size of the sump pump pit into which it will be placed
• maximum discharge flow
• maximum discharge pressure
• discharge size
• media temperature

Features

In general, sump pumps are known for their reliability, as they are the first line of defense against the potential disasters associated with flooding. Sometimes, however, sump pumps do break down and the resultant damage to equipment and the time and money lost due to cleanup and down-time can be staggering. To solve this problem, there are battery back-up sump pumps that can function if the main power system breaks down. Back-up sump pumps are a wise choice if one thinks of the potential disasters. Additionally, routine maintenance and sump pump repair schedules should be adhered to, to make sure that proper functionality is maintained. Periodic inspection of the sump pump pit should also be conducted to make sure that large solids or other items are not in a position that could clog the pump system and cause failure.

Related Information

CR4 Community—Pump Technology Blog

Engineering360—Evaluating Variable Speed Motors for Centrifugal Pump Applications

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