A motorized pump placed in a designated pit at the lowest point of a building to prevent flooding. As groundwater fills the pit, a float switch activates the pump, pushing the water out through a discharge pipe away from the foundation. They are critical in areas with high water tables or poor drainage.
Heard on the job
The float switch on the sump pump stuck open again, so the basement has an inch of standing water.
Insider tip
Always install a check valve on the discharge line so the water left in the pipe does not fall back into the pit and short-cycle the pump.