What Is A Sump Pump?
A sump pump is simply a pump that removes ground water from your home.

Many people don't know exactly how a sump pump system works. Here's a great diagram of a sump pump system.



Horse Power (HP)
Pumps come in a variety of HP, which range in fractional sizes from 1/4 to 3/4. Normally the greater the HP, the more water a pump can move.

Gallons Per Hour (GPH)
Pump makers provide this data for each pump to describe how many gallons of water can be moved in a certain period of time (hour).

Lift ( @ X' )
Lift is the height the pump has to push the water to discharge it. It would be the distance from the bottom of the sump pit to where it exits the home. When GPH ratings are given for a pump, they're usually given at multiple heights. The higher the water has to be lifted, the lower the GPH becomes.

Discharge Size
This is the diameter of the discharge outlet on the sump pump. Most pumps are either 1-1/4" or 1-1/2". This is important because when you're selecting a new pump, it should match up with the current diameter of discharge pipe you have.

Float Switch
A float switch provides automatic operation of a sump pump. As the water level rises in the sump pit, it will reach a certain level and activate the float switch. The pump will run until the switch returns to the unactivated position.

There are 3 types of switches that are most common.

Vertical- A buoyant ball-type object connected to a metal rod.
Tether- A corded buoyant-ball type object that moves freely in the pit.
Electronic - No moving parts, sensors are used to detect water.

Solid Handling
Most submersible sump pumps are able to handle a small amount of solids present in the water. Pedestal pumps aren't usually able to handle solids. This is important when selecting a pump.

Now that you're familiar with the basics, picking the perfect sump pump should be easy.