Sump Pump Options

There are plenty of horror stories of failing sump pumps, but choosing the right sump equipment can keep the space beneath your home free of water. The wrong sump pump, however, could make it you telling the story of how your sump failed when you needed it.

Perma-Seal has researched carefully in order to find the SmartSump to fill just that role. The pump itself is a high quality, 1/3rd horsepower Zoeller sump pump, but it is only one element in this carefully designed system.

The Sump Pit & Liner
If a sump pump is in a dirt-lined hole, it will quickly clog and cease protecting you basement and/or crawlspace. The remedy for this is a sump liner, but only one that is the right size for the pump. A liner that is too small, for example, could cause a pump to "short cycle," or turn on and off quickly because there is too little water for it to pump. A well-built liner that is the right size for the pump is the best solution.

Pump Stand
A well designed pump stand will keep the pump elevated and away from silt or debris that does get into the sump liner. This not only prevents clogging or damage to the pump, but also helps keep the check valve clear so pumping capacity won't be reduced over time by buildup in the discharge pipe.

Air-Tight Sump Lid with Floor Drain
Many good pumps have failed to operate because some alien object fell into an open sump or the mud at the bottom of non maintained basin clogged the impeller. The storm water sump should have a solid bottom, perforated sides (to relieve hydrostatic pressure from under the floor), and an airtight, bolted down cover. This will not only protect the pump, but also your small children and pets who may be attracted to the water. Since there will likely be some water in the pit at all times, it makes perfect sense to keep the water vapor from evaporating into the basement and/or crawlspace we're working so hard to make dry. Sometimes, though, water from below your home isn't the worry. Without any way to get water out of your newly encapsulated crawl space, a plumbing leak could fill it like a swimming pool! The solution to this is a one way, air-tight valve in the sump lid so that any water that gets down there can drain away.

Pump Alarm
Another necessity is a battery powered alarm that warns you if you have a inside leak. Because most crawl spaces are visited infrequently, it is possible to have a plumbing leak for years and not know it. The SmartSump comes standard with our WaterWatch Alarm that will warn you if there is a problem.

Bigger Problems
At the other end of the spectrum, a crawl space that has serious water problems will need more than a SmartSump. A pump with increased pumping capacity and extra redundancy is necessary to do the best job keeping your crawl space dry. The TripleSafe is just such a system.

As the name implies, the TripleSafe actually has three pumps:

• A primary pump.
• A secondary pump that will switch on if the primary pump fails or can't keep up with the volume of water.
• A battery powered backup pump in case the power goes out - which often happens during big rain storms!

Selecting the Right Pump

How do you find a reliable pump? Unfortunately price and even warranties are not necessarily good indicators of a pump's reliability. Many pump manufacturers build replacement costs into their prices and warranties, but they don't factor in the expense and heartache that is consequential to a failure. Perma-Seal has dealt with the same pump manufacturers for many years, so we know which ones are the most reliable, and best fit for your particular circumstances. The sizing of the pump, discharge route, and backup system is best left to a certified professional.