If a sump pump fails or is overwhelmed, the basement will flood they typically have battery back-up pump systems alongside.Īn ejector pump often looks just like a sump pump and is also installed in a basin in the floor.

When the sump pump is activated, it pumps the water out of the basement through a discharge pipe and delivers it out onto the lawn, into a municipal storm sewer or a dispersal device like a dry well. The water that collects in the sump basin is ground water, that is, water from the soil surrounding the home’s foundation and is typically clear and cold. Water collected by the drain tile flows to the sump basin and accumulates there until the level rises high enough to trigger the sump pump’s float switch. Typically, there will be two inlets in a sump basin that connect to either end of a drain tile system, either interior or exterior. So, What’s the Difference between a Sump Pump and an Ejector Pump? Sump pumps and ejector pumps are both important parts of a home’s water management system and a malfunction of either can create a destructive mess.Ī sump pump is a small, often submersible, water pump that is located in the basement in a sump basin, a cylindrical container at least two feet deep that is set into the floor. In fact, this second pump is usually an ejector pump and, although it performs the same basic function as a sump pump in removing water from the basement, the source and destination of that water are far different. It is often bigger, or at least very similar, to the sump pump and some homeowners are perplexed as to why it’s there and what it does.

In many homes, particularly in those with finished basements, there is often what appears to be a second sump pump, often located near the sump pump. They’ve been around a while and they play an important role in keeping a basement dry. In most parts of the country, homeowners are used to having a sump pump in the basement.

Ejector pump vs sump pump