What is a Small Submersible Pump?
Small sump pumps, AKA small submersible pumps, are named after the sump they are installed in where they pump away collected nuisance and flood water. They are compact and portable, designed for domestic and other low-flow settings.
Small submersible pumps consist of a:
Motor: Powers the pump and drives the impeller.
Impeller: Rotates to draw water into the pump before it is expelled through the discharge pipe.
Float switch: Activates the pump when the water level in the sump put rises to a predetermined level for automatic dewatering.
Sump: A basin or pit where water collects via gravity, where the small sump pump is installed.
Discharge pipe: Carries water from the sump pump to a secondary location, such as a storm drain or main sewer system.
Check valve: Installed on the discharge pipe to prevent water from flowing back into the sump onde the pump has stopped. This helps to maintain the pump's prime and prevents unnecessary on/off cycling.
Housing/casing: This encloses the motor and impeller to protect them from water damage.
How do small submersible pumps work?
Sump pump operating cycle:
- Water fills the sump pit, collected via gravity or pipes that feed into the sump.
- This water lifts a buoyant level control unit, usually a float switch, which activates the sump pump when it reaches a preset height.
- The sump pump transfers the nuisance water under pressure through the discharge pipework to a suitable location, such as the nearest foul water drain.
- The pump is deactivated when the float switch returns to its preset low level.
Common Uses of Sump Pumps
Small sump pumps manually or automatically remove nuisance and flood water from low lying areas such as cellars and basements, this could be caused by:
- Excess rainwater (flooding)
- Groundwater seepage
- Ice thaw
- Leaks (from domestic appliances, hoses and pipes)
These pumps are effective at managing nuisance water in smaller and domestic settings, but they are not suitable for pumping raw sewage or aggregates due to the presence of suspended fibrous solids; for these applications you need a sewage pump.
Submersible sewage pumps may sometimes be used in a sump application, but never the other way around - for more information read our guide Can Sewage Pumps be Used as Sump Pumps?
How to choose the best small submersible pump:
The most effective model of small sump pump for you is one that operates reliably, effectively removes nuisance water and is energy efficient.
This changes depending on the parameters of the application, such as flow rate and suspended solids content. Consider the following factors when selecting your sump pump or contact a member of the team for expert selection advice.
Volume - Estimating the highest volume of water you expect to encounter will determine the size of the sump and pump you need.
The sump must be big enough to handle the largest amount of water you may need to pump away, but small enough to avoid short cycling. This is when the water is slow to accumulate and start the pump but quick to fall to the level required to stop the pump, this leads to frequent starting and stopping, excessive wear and increased energy consumption.
The size of the pump, its components (such as discharge pipework diameter) and power output will affect the maximum flow rate it can achieve - this must be high enough to reliably prevent a sump overflow should the maximum expected volume of water occur.
Sump positioning - The sump should be positioned to facilitate safe and easy access for future maintenance needs as well as at a low point in the ground for effective water collection.
Discharge point - Make sure your sump water is discharged to a safe and appropriate location. All areas have different rules for where this water can be discarded, such as grassy fields or storm drains. Check with your local water authority for more information.
Pipework - The kind of pipework used to carry your nuisance water away will depend on whether the installation is designed for permanent or temporary drainage. Flexible hosing is suitable for short-term applications and compact for easy transportation, but stronger materials such as steel or ABS plastic provide greater wear resistance for long-term use.
Solids handling - Small submersible pumps can be designed for clean or dirty water drainage depending on the solids handling capacity of the impeller. This is specified on each model, determined by the strength of the pump's construction and the free passage allowed by the impeller that prevents blockages.
Can sump pumps run continuously?
Small sump pumps are designed to run for as long as is necessary to bring eater levels in the sump ack to your preset low level. Intervals between starting and stopping (cycling) can vary depending on the inflow of nuisance water,
Submersible pump motors are cooled by the liquid they pump, so running them continuously when the sump has been drained will cause overheating and premature wear.
T-T Small Submersible Pumps
DR Steel - Domestic Drainage Pump
Stainless steel sump pumps with a multi-channel impeller for clear or grey wastewater, automatic as standard.
Corrosion-resistant stainless steel and fibre-reinforced plastic construction with a vortex impeller for up to 35mm solids handling.
Sumpy - Fully Submersible Drainage Pump
A fully automatic sump pump with an integral float switch, technopolymer body and stainless steel shaft for a robust drainage solution.
T-T 100 - Clean Water Drainage Pump
Designed for clear water with non-abrasive particles up to 9mm, ideal for domestic and industrial settings.
Fibre-reinforced small submersible pump ideal for permanent installation, also suitable for pond drainage.
Ask the Experts
If you need help finding the perfect small submersible pump for your application, contact our experts by calling +44 (0)1630 647200, emailing [email protected] or completing our online enquiry form.