Sewage Pump: Introduction & Buying Guide - Gulf Coast Pump ...

Author: CC

Sep. 08, 2025

Environment

Sewage Pump: Introduction & Buying Guide - Gulf Coast Pump ...


A: A sewage pump is obviously for wastewater design. It can be a standard non-clog, a grinder pump, or it can be a small effluent pump. Anything that’s pumping water out of the lift station. It can be a small commercial, large industrial, or municipal lift station that’s pushing it to a water treatment plant. The end-use is to get rid of wastewater from homes, businesses, schools, and whatnot.

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In simpler terms, a sewage pump is a device that is used to move wastewater from your home to your sewer system. The sewage pump is going to be installed at the lowest point of the basin. Due to that fact, the pump remains underwater most of the time. Therefore, sewage pumps are also called a submersible sewage pump. These pumps come in manual, automatic, or dual-mode. In an automatic configuration, the pump is connected to a float switch which tells the pump when to turn on based on wastewater levels. In a manual configuration, the switch has to be activated manually and does not trigger based on levels. This can easily result in sewage overflow if you aren’t turning on the pump regularly. That’s why an automatic pump is the most ideal setup since it prevents this from happening to you.

Sewage pumps are centrifugal function pumps, meaning they use an impeller that rotates to create the centrifugal force to create pressure. This pressure is what forces the water into the impeller and on through the discharge pipe. The discharge pipe, usually about 2 inches in diameter, then connects to the main sewer line. They are designed in such a way that allows soft solids to pass through without causing the pump to clog. The pump housing contains the motor as well as the impeller.

Sewage Pump Designs

There are quite a few manufacturers of sewage pumps of which Liberty Pumps and Zoeller tend to be our bestsellers. Within those and other brands, there are three main types of sewage pump designs.

Effluent Pumps – These pumps are most often found in smaller, on-site setups such as rural homes or farmhouses. Effluent is waste that has been broken down from solid and liquid combo to pure liquid. Septic tanks have special enzymes added to the tank that breaks down waste solids into a relatively clear liquid. Effluent pumps are used to pump that liquid out of the septic tank. They can pump at a higher level and more volume since they don’t have to deal with waste solids.

Ejector Pumps – These pumps, also called solid handling pumps are made for handling raw sewage that includes substantial solids. Raw sewage is heavily comprised of solids such as toilet paper, human waste, and other solids. Most pumps can’t handle all that solid waste so ejector pumps should be the only type used when raw sewage is involved.

Grinder Pumps – Now, an exception to most pumps regarding handling solids is a grinder pump. It can be thought of as a hybrid of a sewage pump and garbage disposal. This is because a grinder pump also incorporates rotating blades that chop and grind solids into exceedingly small pieces. These smaller particles make it possible for them to pump out with effluent.

Benefits Of A Sewage Pump

Sewage pumps are designed to remove wastewater from low lying areas such as a basement where water builds up. It pumps it up and out into the wastewater system of the house or building it is installed in. Of course, the concept is a very elementary one however, the installation itself is significantly more complex. The benefit they pose is that they save homeowners and property managers thousands of dollars in damage from mishaps such as:

  • Flood Damage – When hurricanes and other weather systems dump tons of water in a short period, flooding is a real possibility. Basements, since they are usually located at or below ground level, tend to take on lots of water when this happens. It’s not unrealistic for your basement to end up with over 12 inches of water quite quickly. However, with a sewage pump, that crisis can be averted—protecting your foundation and any valuables in the basement.
  • Mold and Mildew Growth – When you have constant moisture and humidity inside a basement from stagnant water pools—mold and mildew develop. This is not only detrimental to drywall and wood but your respiratory health as well. If you have a sewage pump, you mitigate the chances of water build-up, reducing the chance of mold and mildew growth.
  • Fire – If you get water buildup in the basement it will short out appliances such as washer and dryers or your water heater. Aside from having to replace these household appliances, the short can also trigger a fire. However, with a sewage pump, again—no water build-up, so you avoid the possibility of electrical fires.

Buying And Ownership Tips

Whether you’re shopping online for a new sewage pump or you’ve just installed your first pump, there’s some tips you should know. Tips about purchasing a pump, and tips when owning one.

  • Check The Pressure. When you first install the pump immediately take a pressure reading. This will give you a benchmark guide if something goes awry. If you notice a drop in pressure inspect the system for bad check valves or pumps, and leaks.
  • Maintain Pump Data. Keep it in a convenient location in case you need the model number and install date for warranty claims.
  • Check The Warranty. No matter what pump you go with, one day, it may need to be replaced unexpectedly. You want to make sure the pump you buy has a smooth and trustworthy warranty that’s easy to process.
  • Check For Upper Bearing. You can separate the top of the line pumps from the entry-level based on the upper bearing or lack thereof. When a pump has a bushing vs. an upper bearing, it’s a sure sign of low-quality design.
  • Buy From Authorized Distributors. True pro quality grade pumps aren’t available at Home Depot or Lowes. Pro-grade pumps must be purchased by an authorized distributor such as Gulf Coast Pump & Supply.
  • Learn Your System. Ask questions when purchasing, look online to see how your pump works and know who to contact if it fails. Having a deep knowledge of your pump will help you save money by avoiding unexpected emergencies.
  • Be Careful What You Flush. Never flush anything but human waste and paper toilet tissue down your toilets. So-called “flushable wipes” aren’t flushable at all and can clog a pump quick!

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What Every Homeowner Should Know About Sump Pump Installation

Water is both a blessing and a curse.

In its proper place, water keeps plants green. It hydrates people and animals. It creates serene ponds with aquatic animals.

But in the wrong place, it feeds mold in your home and creates a damp, musty smell. It can destroy your belongings when it seeps into your basement.

Thankfully, modern engineering has come up with a solution to this problem: the sump pump.

Keep reading to learn more about why you may need to install a sump pump in your basement.

What Is a Sump Pump?

In short, a sump pump keeps your basement dry.

It is a small pump that sits beneath the surface of your basement in a sump pump hole or on top of the basement floor. The sump pump hole is a hole in your basement floor with an exposed top.

Groundwater will collect in the sump pump hole. As water collects in the sump basin, the pump will redirect it out of and away from your home.

A submersible pump in the sump hole has a float switch that turns the pump on when the water reaches a particular level. So when the float lifts high enough, the pump turns on. When the float falls back down, the pump shuts off.

Do I Need a Sump Pump?

Typically, if your basement takes on water, you need a sump pump. Examine your basement to see why it has water.

Is the water seeping through the concrete? Do you have a cracked foundation? Look for why you have water first to determine if you need a pump.

Some regions of the United States have a high water table. As you look at the homes around you, ask homeowners if they have sump pumps. If they do, you most likely need one as well.

A high water table means any amount of rain will cause water to rise and come into subterranean areas, like your basement.

The company is the world’s best Basement Sewer Lift Station supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Who Installs Sump Pumps?

Plumbers can install sump pumps.

However, if you want the best of the best, call a basement expert. These guys understand underground water issues. They know the ins and outs of basements and how to redirect water.

Basement experts can also assess your foundation while they’re looking at how to install a sump pump. They’ll be able to tell you if you need foundation repair as well as a water redirection system.

Can a Sump Pump Fail?

Like any mechanical device, a sump pump can fail. Almost every time a sump pump fails, though, you can find a solution. Here are some of the top reasons for sump pump failure and their subsequent solutions.

Problem: Too Much Water

If you have extremely high volumes of water, your sump pump may not be able to handle the load. This leaves you with a working pump in the middle of a flooded basement.

Solution: A Bigger Pump

Pumps come in different sizes. If you need to handle a large volume of water, you will need a bigger pump.

This is where basement experts can help. When you have someone install a sump pump for you, he can tell you what size will work best.

Having a second pump can help as well. Sometimes you just have massive amounts of rain that flood whole communities. If that’s a possibility, then have two pumps ready so you can work them both at the same time.

Problem: Faulty Mechanics

Not all pumps are made alike. Pumps can easily burn out when a float switch fails. If you have a small pump that you work to death, it will burn out.

Cheap pumps with junky components also fail. They cannot handle extreme situations like inches of rain in a short amount of time.

You might want to save money by buying a cheaper pump. This will cost you more in basement repair. Purchase a quality pump with high-quality components. Do your consumer research or trust your basement expert.

Problem: Power Outage

Regular sump pumps run on electricity. When the power goes out, whether it’s a tripped circuit or a downed power line, your sump pump will not work.

Most people that have good sump pumps and drainage systems find themselves with flooded basements because of power outages. So even if you do everything right, a loss of power means disaster.

Solution: Backup Power

A generator can solve this problem pretty simply. Individuals who live in areas prone to power outages know the necessity of a generator. But if you live in a typical first-world neighborhood, you do not have a generator on standby.

Sump pump engineers have developed some pretty ingenious ways to solve this problem without a generator.

Battery-backup sump pumps plug into your electricity to receive their charge. Then, when the power goes out, the charged battery kicks in and keeps the pump going until the power comes back on.

A waterline pump also works well in the case of an outage. When the power goes out, a waterline pump will open a water valve to your city water. The city water then, with enough PSI, will power your sump pump until the power comes back on and the valve closes.

Problem: Clogged Intake

Your sump pump will have an intake where water comes in. Sometimes this intake has a screen. If debris clogs the intake, your pump will not pump efficiently, and it will become overwhelmed.

Solution: Maintain Your Pump

Put your pump on a maintenance schedule. Then check it regularly. Check the intake to make sure debris hasn’t begun to build up.

Clogged Discharge Line

Even if your pump itself is working efficiently, if the line from the pump to the discharge site has a clog, the pump will not work. A clogged or frozen discharge line will prevent water from leaving the basement. The water will then cycle back into the hole.

Solution: Check Your Line

Whenever you check your pump’s intake, also check your line. If the weather looks like it will get sketchy and freeze your line, come up with a backup solution for the line. Look into having your pump go into your sewer system until the line thaws.

Stay Smart, Stay Dry

If you live in a soggy area, you do not have to have a soggy basement. A quality sump pump can solve your problem.

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