Pumps may be made of plastic, stainless steel, cast iron, or other materials. Some sump pumps are submersible, meaning they can work when completely covered in water. Pedestal-style pumps rest on a platform that keeps the motor above the water level. These are useful when limited space requires a small sump pit.
The submersible models are generally more powerful and capable of handling debris that gets into the sump pit. Power is necessary when a pump has to lift water several feet to carry it outside the foundation for disposal. Primary pumps are powered by the household alternating current.
Some have battery-powered backup pumps. These enable the pump to keep working even if the household power goes out. More advanced pumps connect to wi-fi networks. This lets them be controlled remotely and monitored to ensure they are working properly.
Many but not all pumps have automatic switches that use a float to detect when the water level is getting high. These pumps can remove the water from a basement before it becomes flooded without any action needed by the homeowner.
Installing a complete basement drainage system in new construction or in an existing basement may require various specialized tools, such as jackhammers and trenching equipment.
Sump Pump Installation: Required Tools For most sump pump replacement installations in an existing basement, you will need the following:. You may also use a wet-dry vacuum to remove any water that has collected.
Zip ties are handy for fastening wires. Before doing anything, read the installation manual for your sump pump. These steps will work for most pumps, but some may have specific requirements. A full installation of a new basement water collection and sump pump system also involves digging a drainage channel around the perimeter of the basement. This requires using a jackhammer to break through the concrete floor for a retrofit into an existing basement. Gravel poured into the drainage channel makes a bed for the drainage pipe to collect and direct water to the sump pit and pump.
The drainage channel and drainage pipe have to be sloped down, or water will collect without reaching the pump. The sump pit should be located in the lowest part of the basement floor. Inside the sump pit, a plastic liner captures the water from the drainage channel until it builds up to the level required to trigger the sump pump.
Gravel may be placed around the inside of the sump pit to keep the liner stable. A bead of caulk can also be run around the rim of the liner. Installing a new sump pump is not something that has to be done often. A professional can do the job quickly and correctly, but a homeowner may have to wait days or weeks to get a professional installer to come out to do the work. Doing it yourself can give you peace of mind today, knowing you have a powerful ally in the battle against basement flooding.
Andrew Helling is the founder and editor of REthority. Then completely loosen the discharge flange bolts. Repeat the process for the suction pipe. Correct the excessive strain before proceeding to the next step. Conduct a rotational check of the driver and, if applicable, determine the rotor electrical center running center. Failure to check the direction of rotation can have serious and expensive consequences.
I see this mistake frequently despite instructions to the contrary. Rotors on larger motors with sleeve-type bearings will have both an electrical center and a mechanical center. You will need to determine both and record the results.
If your unit has bearings of this type, then this step may be better conducted prior to the second alignment adjustment. Your supplier can provide more details. Set the alignment for the electrical run center distance not the mechanical one. Check the pump settings, including impeller axial adjustments, clearances, mechanical seal settings, rotor centralization, balance drum settings and bearing lift. Verify the unit rotates freely. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines, and pay special attention to the key-to-keyway fits.
Note that the pump and driver hubs should be installed sooner than this step. Fill and vent the pump and system. Check the system valve "lineup. Remember, you cannot vent a running pump; the fluid will come out, but the air trapped in the center of the machine will remain. The fluid has more mass and will be flung to the outside. Start the unit. Be prepared to stop the unit immediately if anything does not seem right.
Check for proper pressures, flows, temperature of oil and bearings, vibrations, and noise. It is good practice to recheck the alignment after the pump has been operating for a short time. If the pumped fluid is very hot above F , it is also good practice to perform a "hot alignment check. All too often I witness the damaging effects from dismissing or disregarding the information in the IOM and this article.
If the intended outcome is to accomplish successful operation for a minimum of five years, measured as zero downtime for repairs or failures, this advice will assist you in that endeavor. When units arrive with the pump and motor already on the baseplate, beware that improper rigging and handling will distort the base. Be sure to record all of the initial measurements and alignment settings to establish a baseline of unit data. Finally, I advise users to check the alignment of the pump to driver four to five times during the process from receiving to startup.
Jim Elsey is a mechanical engineer who has focused on rotating equipment design and applications for the military and several large original equipment manufacturers for 43 years in most industrial markets around the world. He is the general manager for Summit Pump, Inc. Elsey may be reached at jim summitpump. Subscribe Now and Get: In-depth articles on pump industry issues Expert insights into important topics in the field Keep up with trends, basics, and more.
Breadcrumbs You are here: Home. Checklist for Successful Pump Installation. During the last 20 years, the common understanding that new industrial pumps require some basic checks and adjustments prior to installation and startup has been supplanted by a new notion that pumps arrive from the factory ready to go, a phenomenon known as "plug-and-play. All pump installations require some basic action steps from a well-thought-out checklist to yield a successful startup.
Issue October Related Articles Pumps. Vibration Standards in Engine-Driven Pumps. The type of driver coupled to a rotodynamic pump can have a significant impact on the pump vibration characteristics. Pent-up demand following the pandemic is positive, but supply chain issues persist.
Geiger President Christopher S. Supply chain issues could persist in and beyond.
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