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Welcome to Inspector Pumphead’s Frequently Asked Questions! In this feature, I will be answering some of the most common questions we get on a specific topic. Some of this information may be available elsewhere on our site, but hopefully the FAQ category will act as a convenient one-stop source. In this edition, I'll discuss whether it's a good idea to increase your pumps horsepower for an existing system. Q: Should I get a more powerful pump (in terms of HP) than my old one Customers looking to replace a pump are often looking for an upgrade. It’s perfectly natural and could apply to virtually any other consumer driven field. People don’t want to settle for the old thing, they want newer, bigger, flasher. When it comes to pumps, “upgrading” could mean a variety of different changes. One of the most frequent requests we get from people looking to change is for a higher horsepower pump. Many have the conception that more power is always a good thing or that increased HP will lead to more pressure. While this can sometimes work out, upping the horsepower can often lead to damage to your pump or system. Increased motor power can lead to the pump running “dry.” That means evacuating the water in a pit/basin at an unsustainable rate, to the extent that the basin is emptied before it can be replenished. That leaves your pump essentially sucking on air. Water acts as both a coolant and lubricating agent. When a pump runs dry it can overheat causing the internal components to damage or spark due to friction. Of course, there are pumps that can be run dry intermittently, such as the Goulds WS_D3 Sewage Pumps. But my larger point is about proper sizing, which is something we here at PumpProducts.com emphasize often. Knowing your system, your application and all the precise requirements will ensure you get the right pump for your application and that the pumps runs to its most efficient possible use. Bigger is not always better. Pump Products application engineers are standing by to help you find the right pump, as well as to provide price quotes, availability and shipping information. Call our toll free number 1-800-429-0800.

Sump pumps generally sit in the lowest part of a basement sump pit and pump rainwater, snowmelt or appliance runoff away from a house and keep the basement dry. A small amount of water can cause thousands of dollars of damage and an effective sump pump system is one of the most important ways to  protect a home. The size of a sump pit will determine the sump pump that's best suited for it so if you're installing a sump pit for the first time, install a large one. A small pit will accommodate a small pump that will have to run more often and will generally have a motor that runs hotter and have a shorter life. (more…)