Sump Pump System

Sump Pump System Overview

A sump pump system consists of a ground-water collection system, a sump pit or tank, a sump pump and an outlet drain. Here's how they work:

Ground-water collection system: A system of drain rock and drain tile buried along the foundation or under the basement floor. The drain tiles carry the water to the sump pit for collection.

Sump Tank/Pit: A pit or tank installed into the floor of the basement to collect the ground-water from around and under the basement and foundation. The tank is typically installed in the lowest point of the basement and have two holes in each side for the incoming drain tiles.

Sump Pump: The sump pump draw water out of the pit when it reaches a certian level. There are two main types: submersible sump pumps, and pedestal sump pump. The pump automatically shuts off once the tank is emptied to a certian level.

Sump Drain: The drainage system that takes the water pumped out of the sump system away from the house. The drainage pipe could be connected to a sewer, or just a pipe that discharges the water far away from the house.