Are you tired of having a flooded basement? It might be because you do not have the right sump pump installed in your basement. Flooding of a house is a common problem in most estates, and when your house floods, it becomes nasty.
No one would like their home to be flooded, and they would do whatever they could to avoid it. However, not everyone is well informed about the precautions or solutions to such problems. Read along to find out the right sump pump size for your basement.
How to estimate your sump pump capacity needs?
Choose a very wet rainy day to run your sump pump up to a point where the water recedes to the shut-off level. Wait for one minute with the pump turned off and then measured the depth at which water rose during the minute. Since the typical sump pit measures about 18 inches in diameter, every inch of the water inside the pit will amount to approximately one gallon. Multiply the figure of inches that the water rose in one minute by 60. This will help you find the estimate of the volume of water you expect to into your sump pit when it rains steadily for one hour. Then proceed to multiply the number you get by 1.5 to determine the pumping capacity. The 1.5 serves as the safety factor.
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How to choose the best shape and size of the sump pump?
As you try to look for the right answer to this question, you should know that there is no specific size of the sump pump that is correct for your house. However, one way to get close if you want to know the right sump pump size for basement is explained here.
First, you must understand the area’s condition by inspecting it to determine the right pump size for your home. Any split-level home with a basement needs a sump pump. You can choose an automatic sump pump since it is designed so that water is accumulated and thrown into the pit through the drainage.
Choosing a sump pump based on types
Typically, there are two types of sump pumps, which are pedestal and submersible. The former is often simpler to maintain and is fixed above the sump pit while the latter is usually installed inside the hole. This second type is usually correctly fixed and sealed, which makes it sometimes to reach the machine. Also, the pedestal pump comes in numerous models and is a more economical choice than the submersible. However, they both need a long pipe of about 20 feet to connect and water from the basement to the drainage system.
Choices may vary according to unique user needs.
All users have different needs, which influences the size of the sump pump that their house needs and type, among other factors. For instance, some people live in homes built on foundations below the water table while some live mainly dry areas. Therefore, you do not choose a sump pump based on the size of your basement or home. Instead, you chose them based on the amount of moisture it supposed to manage.
Horsepower
One way to pick the right sump pumps is by the horsepower. When choosing the best sump pump, you should instead use the motor’s power than its size. It is the strength of the motor that will determine how powerful the sump pump will be. Most of these pumps are sold according to their motor’s power and not size. Therefore, you can choose the right pump according to the horsepower, which may include 5-horsepower, 25-horsepower, or 33-horsepower, among others.
How do you determine the right horsepower for your home? You can learn the horsepower requirement of your home by the drainage area connected to the sump pump. Most homes would be served well by a 1/3 horsepower sump pump. However, many houses also use 1/2 horsepower sumps since it does not cost so much more. When you use the above mentioned in similar conditions, the 1/2-horsepower sump will pump more water than the 1/3-horsepower sump and even lift it higher than it.
Several factors determine the amount of horsepower you need in your sump pump. First, you need to determine the amount of your drainage system connected to the pumps. Next, you need to understand the depth of the groundwater. Another critical factor is the depth of your basement. Lastly, it would be best if you determined whether your foundation is below the water table or not. If you cannot identify all these on your own, you can invite a technician to help you.
Advantages of Choosing the Right Size
Choosing a sump pump with the most appropriate size for your house comes with numerous advantages. One of the most common benefits is that it will last much longer if it is neither too small nor too large for your house. In other words, it should neither be too overpowering nor too weak for the task at hand. Know the amount of moisture that needs to be pumped and where it will be pumped before choosing the right sump for it. Once you have determined the system capacity and the total dynamic head, you will be able to decide on the correct sump pump for the job.
Final Verdict
By now, you should know the right sump pump size for basement. Most new sump pump models provide a graph or chart on the box or instructions that show the flow against the height of lift for both sizes. They usually give the flow in gallons per minute or gallons per hour. When you multiply the gallons per minute by 60, it is converted to gallons per hour. If the water flows into the sump relatively slowly, you may need a more reliable sump pump than the 1/2-horsepower.
