Submersible or pedestal sump

[Stickjiggler]

Looking to buy a new sump pump. What are the pros and cons of each. I have only had pedestal ones in the past. It seems to me that the submersible cycle on and off a lot more and pump less water each cycle. My pedestal is set to let the basin fill to just under the tile then cycle on and pump out thd whole basin.

[delcecchi]

There is a submersible type with a tethered float switch that is adjustable for travel. So you can set where it trips by adjusting the length of the cord to the switch. I have one of those and it works fine

[WWW]

My pedestal is going on 25 years or more now with just light duty. One of our trade mags in the last year had a article on the retirement of the pedestal pumps. Company quit making them. Can you even get one anymore?

[Stickjiggler]

Thanks guys. Yes you can still buy new pedestal pumps at all the big stores. Just not sure about the submersibles. I know they are the most common now.

[delcecchi]

My submersible has been running for (holy cow has it been that long?) about 20 years now. So far so good. I suppose now it will die, since i went and said something.

[Down Deep]

Both are going to pump water for years. I have two sumps both with submersibles. About the only advantage I can think of is that the submersible is sealed in the sump which quiets the operation. I kept one of my old pedestals for a back up pump.

[nobody05]

never have had luck with wayne submersibles. liberty is on year #8 as we speak

[rundrave]

my zoeller 1/3 HP submersible lasted a year, and my most recent zoeller 1/2 HP submersible new in spring of 2011 just died last week.

I have a pretty high water table at my home and pump spring to fall and this spring/summer it has been working overtime.

for those that pump a lot of water frequently what type pumps are you using and how long are they lasting?

[Down Deep]

I have two submersible pumps one is a Coleman and the other is a Wayne. The Coleman is in a deeper sump and is about 10 years old. This sump carries the bulk of the drain water and during the snow melt season the the usual following rainy season this pump can be going off every minute or so. The pumps I pulled out when I replaced were both Westinghouse and had been in place for 20 plus years and still working. One year seems very quick. I'm no electrician, but maybe there is something wrong with the power feed to your pump.

[Surface Tension]

If you use the tethered switch be sure the ball can't get hung on it's or the pumps wires or the plumbing Of coarse the longer the tether the more likelihood of it snagging up.

Personally I like the vertical float fully contained in the basin for a cleaner look but the pedestal give you a little more adjustability. I have no problem using a cheap flotec.

You can't do much about the volume of water coming in(other then landscaping) but the way its discharged you can. Like any motor, the frequency of starts has much to do with its life expectancy.

I have a sump basin and maybe need to drain it once a year but on a different application I have a pump to lift and move water. Just like a sump the pump turns as the water level rises and turns off when the float drops. After that the pump doesn't turn back and and I'm still lifting and moving water as long as the water is still coming into the basin.

How is that possible? Simply because the end of my discharge is lower then the basin.

The siphon is doing all the work.

If I had a sump pump running constantly I'd be doing the same thing by configuring the float and outlet dia to adjust the outlet flow to the inlet flow.

How, 1st by getting it to siphon. Lets assume that isn't happening with your current setup.

Extend the discharge to exit below the level of your sump.

It could be likely its siphoning more then whats coming in.

Get creative there by restricting the amount of siphon without restricting volume when the pump is on.

[Tom7227]

Frank,

I also have the discharge below the level of the pumps but there was no siphon action. Maybe the pumps and the check valves prevented it but I don't see how. I ended up putting a valve that lets air into the line when the pumps turn off. Before that the line would gurgle for a couple of minutes as it discharged.

Tom

[Surface Tension]

There should be a check valve just above the pump to keep the lifted water from falling back down into the basin. That won't stop the siphon. Some apps suggest a small drain hole between the valve and pump to drain the small amount of water in between. That hole would suck air, gurgle and brake the siphon.

If the siphon drains the basin you will hear the gurgle at that time. Its a matter of water being drained faster then whats coming in. Again with trail and error you can restrict the volume of siphon and adjust the float switch to shut off before the basin is drained.

[delcecchi]

On my sump pump, the rate of water coming in varies greatly, at least a factor of 10 maybe 20 from peak rate to just a trickle. So the siphon couldn't be tuned to the rate of water coming in, in my situation at least.

[Surface Tension]

Depending on your situation, after the pump turns off it could move a lot of water or none at all. I was mainly referring to sumps that frequently cycle on and off.