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This 1/4 HP Sump Pump Review by Comparison For Submersibles at Pumps Selection finds that all one-fourth horse power sump pumps are not the same. Differences include pumping capability, housing, float switch types, Amp usage, and availability of replacement parts. Becoming an educated homeowner is key to installing the best sump pump for your water pumping needs.
Quick Info About The 1/4 HP Sump Pump
- GPM and GPH varies widely thus it is important to check a pumps specifications. GPH for 1/4 HP sump pumps ranges from 1,200 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height to 2,180 GPH.
- Pump housing material used includes: cast iron, aluminum, zinc and thermoplastic. Thermoplastic traps heat, is lighter and is not as durable as aluminum and zinc housing. Cast Iron is the best housing material.
- Vortex impellers handle pit debris and small pebbles. A sump pump without a vortex impeller relies on a bottom screen which requires periodic cleaning or top suction which does not remove debris and pebbles from the pit.
- Tether float switches take at least a 14 inch diameter pit and tethered float tangles easily in the pit. Vertical float switches take less room and have a guard to protect the float from getting caught in the pit. A 2-pole snap action float switch offers the best protection, but takes slightly more pit space.
- 2-pole snap action float switches are not affected by water minerals and chemicals like the magnetic draw vertical float switch.
- Cast iron and cast carbon sump pumps offer a three year warranty. Sump pumps with thermoplastic housing have a one year warranty.
- Installing a larger horse power sump pump is not always better. Too much horse power with not enough water to pump per cycle causes pump short cycling and decreases a motors longevity.
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One-fourth sump pump pumping performance is measured by gallons pumped per minute (GPM) or gallons pumped per hour (GPH) per a manufacturer's published performance chart or graph.
A models pumping performance varies by brand and model even among one-fourth horse power motors so it is important to check each models published pump performance curve or chart to know what to expect. The published pump performance curve measures the GPM by vertical pumping height. To make the published GPM and GPH performance chart useful, the vertical height of an existing discharge pipe system, the number of elbows and the pits diameter must be known.
Steps To Apply The Performance Curve To Your Sump Pump System
1) Measure the vertical height of the discharge pipe system from the pump discharge port to its highest vertical point is crucial.
2) Measure the diameter of the pit so it can be determined how many gallons are pumped per pumping cycle. One inch of water pumped in an eighteen inch pit equals one gallon of water. One inch of water in a twenty-four inch diameter pit equals two gallons of water.
3) Know the distance between the float switch ON OFF height. Typically the distance between the vertical float switch ON OFF point is five inches therefore five gallons of water would be pumped from an eighteen inch pit per pumping cycle. If the sump pump ran five times a minute, twenty-five gallons of water would be pumped per minute if the pump ran continuously.
4) Once the vertical head height and pit volume of water pumped per minute or hour during a heavy rainstorm is known, check the pump performance chart of the model of interest that coincides with the prior measurements.
5) Use the known vertical head height and pit volume of water pumped per minute or hour during a heavy rainstorm and find the corresponding GPM or GPH in the performance chart to know if the model of interest meets your water pumping needs.
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One-Fourth GPH At 10 Foot Vertical Height By Pump Model
- Superior Pump models 92250 and 92260 GPH @ 10 feet Vertical Height is 1200 GPH.
- Liberty Pump models 240, 241, 243, and 247 GPH @ 10 feet Vertical Height is 1380 GPH.
- Zoeller USA models M53, M57 and M63 and Zoeller Taiwan 1052.
- Star Water Systems model 2SPHALC GPH @ 10 feet Vertical Height is 1680 GPH.
- Zoeller model 49-0005 Water Riddr III GPH @ 10 feet Vertical Height is 1800 GPH.
- Little Giant models 505700, 505701, 505702, and 505703 GPH @ 10 feet Vertical Height is 1800 GPH.
- Flotec model FPZS25T GPH @ 10 feet Vertical Height is 2180 GPH.
- The tether float requires the greatest pit diameter because the float swings out as the water rises.
- The magnetic draw vertical float and the diaphragm require the least amount of space.
- The 2-pole snap action float offers the most protected against pit tangling because of its more robust protective float guard.
- The tether float gets tangled most easily because the float swings out as the water rises in the pit. The float ON OFF height is most customizable to make the ON OFF greater or less while the 2-pole snap action vertical float is least customizable.
- The magnetic draw vertical float switch ON OFF point can be shortened but not lengthened. Water minerals and chemicals cause magnetic draw vertical float switch failure. Different parts of the county are more prone to mineral buildup.
- The 2-pole snap action vertical float tends to last the longest before replacement is necessary, but it is also least customizable.
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Float Switches By 1/4 HP Sump Pump Models
- Little Giant models 505700, 505701, 505702, and 505703 use 2-Pole Snap Action Vertical Float Switch.
- Liberty Pump model 247, and Superior Pump 9226 use the 2-Magnetic Draw Vertical Float Switch.
- Zoeller model 49-0005 Water Riddr III, Liberty Pump models 241 and l 243, Superior Pump model 92250, Flotec model FPZS25T and Star Water Systems model 2SPHALC use the Tether Float Switch.
There are several types of housing material used for one-fourth horse power sump pumps: cast iron, steel, aluminum, zinc and thermoplastic.
Housing material is important because it affects the pumps weight, durability and ability to dissipate motor heat during continuous pumping.
-Cast iron is the best material for durability, weight and heat dissipation. Cast iron does rust; however epoxy coating retards corrosion. An all cast iron pump will not move during rigorous pumping which means the float will not get caught on the pit wall. Cast iron does not heat up as quickly as aluminum or zinc and dissipates heat well.
-Thermoplastic traps heat, warps and cracks over time; so for durability is not the best choice.
-Stainless steel, aluminum and zinc do not rust however they are not as heavy thus a cast iron.
-Aluminum, zinc and thermoplastic do not have durability like cast iron.
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Housing Material Used By 1/4 HP Sump Pump Models
- Zoeller pump model 49 Water Riddr III uses thermoplastic for the pump body but cast iron for the motor housing.
- Liberty Pump models 240, 241, 243, and 247 use cast iron pump body housing.
- Superior Pump models 92250 and 92260 use thermoplastic for the pump body.
- Little Giant models 505702 and 505703 and Star Water Systems model 2SPHALC use aluminum for pump body housing.
- - Little Giant model 505700 uses steel for pump body housing.
- - Little Giant model 505701 and Flotec model FPZS25T use zinc for pump body housing.
There are three ways a one-fourth horse power sump pump is designed to handle debris and solids: mid mount peripheral-port inlets, bottom suction or vortex impeller.
Mid-Mount
- The mid mount peripheral-port inlets found on the Liberty Pump models 240, 241, 243, and 247 and Little Giant 505702 and 505703 eliminate the need for a bottom screen to clean.
Bottom Screen
- Star Water Systems model 2SPHALC, Flotec model FPZS25T, and Superior Pump models 92250 and 92260 use bottom suction screened intake.
Vortex Impeller Designed to Handle Sol;ds
-Zoeller sump pump 49-005 uses a vortex impeller which allows small debris to flow through the pump without the usage of a bottom screen. It is best to choose a solids handling design based on the degree of debris and solids collecting in the pit.
Pit diameter size required is based on the width of the sump pump and its float type.
- One-fourth horse power pumps with a tether float require the most pit diameter, 14 inches, because the float is free floating up, out and in.
-Pumps with a vertical float switch require an eleven inch diameter pit.
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One-Fourth HP Watts Usage Amps Compared
Sump pump electricity usage by measured in Amps. Converting Amps to watts is easy. Multiply the published sump pump Amps by the voltage which is 120V for 1/4 HP sump pumps.
There is a big difference between one-fourth HP sump pump amps used. Superior Pump models use the least amount of electricity and Little Giant models use the most.
- Superior Pump models 92250 and 92260 use 3.8 Amps,
- Flotec model FPZS25T uses 3.9 Amps,
- Zoeller pump model 49-0005 and Star Water Systems model 2SPHALC use 4 Amps.
- Liberty Pump models 240, 241, 243, and 247 use 6 Amps.
- Little Giant 505700, 505701, 505702 and 505703 use 8.5 Amps.
Most sump pump manufacturers do not test each sump pump before it is shipped.
- Zoeller and Liberty Pumps test each pump before shipment.
- Other brands test sump pumps by lots or models to ensure quality control. A warranty is used to handle sump pump failure during initial installation or within the specified warranty period.
Maintenance
Maintenance requirements for one-fourth horse power sump pumps depends on the brand and model. Some models need more maintenance than others.
There are three common maintenance tasks: 1) cleaning the bottom sump pump screen 2) cleaning the air lock hole and 3) replacing the float switch.
Cleaning a bottom screen prevents clogging and pump failure.
The following models use a bottom screen that must be periodically cleaned Star Water Systems model 2SPHALC, Flotec model FPZS25T, and Superior Pump models 92250 and 92260.
- Zoeller 49-005 uses a vortex impeller which allows small debris to flow through the pump without the usage of a bottom screen.
- Liberty Pump models 240, 241, 243, and 247 and Little Giant 505702 and 505703 use mid-mount peripheral-port inlets that do not have a bottom screen to clean.
Cleaning air lock holes is only necessary in a pit with debris.
. If cleaning is necessary the air lock hole is found in the base of the sump pump or in the discharge pipe close to the pump port. Using a thin sturdy wire works well as a cleaning tool.
The air lock hole is found either at the base of the pump or on the discharge pipe below the top of the pit. Avoiding an air lock hole to eliminate periodic cleaning is not a good idea because an air pocket can cause the pump to run but pump no water.
Eventually float switches fail and need replacement.
Planning for float switch failure is smart. Not all one-third horse power models offer replacement switches. It is smart to install a model that offers a replacement float switch rather than discard the pump just because the switch failed. Since it is impossible to predict when a float switch will fail, buying one before switch failure is a smart thing to do.
Magnetic Draw Vertical Float Switch Replacement
One-third horse power sump pump Magnetic Draw Vertical Float Switch is easy to replace.
Tether Float Switch Replacement
One-fourth horse power sump pump Tether Float Switch is easy to replace.
A 1/;4 HP sump pump cannot handle continuous pumping during a heavy rainstorm. The pump can only run every 6 to 12 seconds depending upon the brand, size of pit and vertical height the water must be pumped. The most common size of sump pump is a 1/3 HP. An owner's manual will show the sump pump GPM or GPH pump performance.
How much water can a 1/4 HP pump move?
The amount of water a ¼ HP pump moves depends upon the brand and model. Superior Pump ¼ HP sump pumps move 20 GPM or 1,200 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height while Flotec ¼ HP sump pumps move 36 GPM or 2180 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height. Though a ¼ HP sump pump is capable of moving 36 gallons of water per minute, it is not built to handle such a volume frequently. A 1/3 HP would be better in this case.
How long does a float switch last?
How long a float switch lasts depends on how often the sump pump runs. However, a 2-pole snap action float switch lasts longer than a tether, or magnetic draw vertical float switch which lasts around 2 years. Calcium carbonate in the water clings to then magnetic draw and causes failure unless it is cleaned periodically.
What is the longest lasting sump pump?
The longest lasting sump pump is a sump pump with cast iron housing, a 2-pole smap action float switch and a vortex impeller.
Is a higher HP sump pump better?
A higher HP sump pump is better only if your existing sump pump runs continuously for over three minutes during a heavy rainstorm. This means your existing pump is working exdtra hard to keep up with the water flowing into the pit. Going with the next higher HP is a good idea.
2) Disengage the check valve so the discharge pipe is free so the sump pump can be removed from the pit; be prepared to catch water from the dangling discharge pipe
3) Remove old sump pump from the pit.
4) Unscrew the discharge pipe from the old pump discharge port.
5) Screw the piping from Step #4 into the new sump pump discharge port.
6) Lower the new sump pump into the pit so it sits solidly on the bottom of the pit.
7) Connect the discharge pipe from the new sump pump to the dangling discharge pipe.
The following video shows how easy it is to install your own sump pump. This is how we learned and no longer depend upon a plumber to do replace our exisitng pump. It is important to have a plumber install the first pump to make sure everything is installed properly and meets plumbing codes for your areaz.
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