These Frequently Asked Questions are a supplement to the Owner's Manual and Safety Instructions. Please review
the
Owner's Manual for safety warnings and precautions, and assembly, operating, inspection, maintenance, and
cleaning
procedures.
Sump pumps are used for removing groundwater from basements and crawlspaces. They can be fully submerged
in
water.
Sewage pumps are used to lift household sewage water from a collection basin and send it to a
gravity-fed sewage
line or septic system.
Utility pumps are used for removing water from flooded areas, spas, and window wells. They can be fully
submerged in
water.
Transfer pumps create suction on the inlet hose and are used for moving water from one place to another.
They
cannot
be submerged in water.
Well pumps are used to draw water from a well or cistern that is less than 25 feet deep. They are
connected to a
pressure tank system and run automatically with a factory-installed pressure switch.
Lawn sprinkler pumps are used to draw water from a cistern or natural water source that is less than 25
feet
deep.
They can supply up to two conventional sprinkler heads for typical watering applications.
Gas Engine pumps are used for outdoor water removal. The clear water, semi-trash, and full trash
descriptions
indicate the type of debris such as mud, rocks, sand, and sludge that can pass through the pump without clogging
it.
Fountain and Pond pumps are used for decorative water features. They are intended for continuous run
applications.
A pump that is labeled “submersible” can be submerged completely underwater. However, the pump must be plugged
into a GFCI protected outlet to prevent death or serious injury from electric shock.
A manual pump must be manually turned on by plugging it in and turned off by unplugging it (or with a switch if
equipped this way). It requires the user to remain with the pump and monitor the pump flow, so that they can
turn it off when the water moving task is finished; otherwise, the pump will run dry and be damaged. An
automatic pump is controlled by a switch that is linked to a float, electronic sensor, or pressure device. This
type of pump can turn on and off on its own without a person monitoring it.
This may be due to an “airlock” condition. This means a pocket of air is trapped around the impeller. The
impeller is the rotating part connected to the motor that generates water pressure and flow. A trapped air
bubble will keep water away from the impeller vanes, preventing water from flowing out of the pump. If you have
a utility pump with an airlock condition, unplug the pump and tilt the pump to the side to release the air
bubble, reset the pump into position, plug in the pump, and watch for output flow. If you have a bottom suction
sump or sewage pump with an airlock condition, refer to your operator’s manual for instructions on drilling a
1/8 – 3/16-inch diameter vent hole in the discharge pipe to release the air. Be sure to drill the hole in the
area above the pump discharge port and below the check-valve.
Pumps can build pressure to lift water (measured in feet of head lift), or they can create flow (measured in
gallons per hour – GPH). Pumps can also do a combination of lifting and flowing with their output power. If a
pump uses more power for lifting water, it means there is less power to create flow. A pump Head versus Flow
chart shows how a pump’s output flow will decrease as it uses more power for lifting. Hose/pipe length, reducer
fittings, and elbow turns will increase head lift and therefore reduce output flow.
If the motor is humming but there is no water flow, the impeller may be jammed. To check and remove a jam,
unplug the pump, and remove it from water. Then remove the inlet cover plate with a screwdriver and clear any
debris. Rotate the impeller by hand to ensure it rotates freely. Finally, replace the inlet cover plate and
screws, place back into the water, and restart the pump.