You never truly appreciate some things until there comes a time when they’re the only ones that can save you from a nasty situation. A perfect example of this are the sump and sewage pumps. These complicated pieces of equipment are probably the last thing that has ever crossed your mind, until you got flooded, that is. See what I’m talking about, right? Both are quite similar, yet very different.

The main similarities of sewage and sump pumps are that they’re both located in the basements of buildings and homes. Their main function is to act as indoor septic systems and they both hold a tank canister which is about three meteres below the floor and a pump. Moreover, they bridge the drainage through a pump when the basement is below the city’s sewage line and storm drain. Both are powered by electricity, and you can simply plug them to an outlet that is nearby. Most high-end models have a battery in case electricity goes out. Let’s discuss them individually.

Sewage Pumps

The main purpose of the sewage pump is to remove sewage particles from a sump pit in the basement to the city sewage system or septic tank. The pump that processes waste water has a sealed lid on the basin and a vent pipe to handle the gases. You can find sewage pumps for sale under two different names – sewer ejector pumps or grinder pumps, as they grind up the solids so that they’re able to pass through smaller pipes.

Unlike sump pumps that need routing maintenance and checking, sewage pumps don’t require routine maintenance. However, you do have to be mindful when flushing larger objects down the toilet and should avoid doing so altogether to avoid clogging them. Something you can do is install an alarm which will go off in case the pump gets clogged. You can easily find sewage pumps for sale online at very affordable prices.

Sump Pumps

Unlike sewage pumps, these pumps can’t pump out sewage, but instead only pump out naturally occurring water which may flood or damage a foundation or a basement. They’re not always necessary, but it’s better to be safe than sorry, right? Some homes have bigger chances of getting flooded then others, so know the area you live in and protect your home.

As briefly aforementioned, these pumps need frequent maintenance and testing. Doing so a few times a year is essential to see whether they work properly or not, and whether the backup battery is charged. You might even want to add water into the sump pit and activate the pump to see whether it’s working properly.