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Pump: Definition & Professional Guide

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A pump is a mechanical device that moves fluid from one location to another by adding energy to the fluid through pressure, suction, or displacement. In residential plumbing, pumps serve essential functions including boosting water pressure, circulating hot water, removing wastewater from below-grade fixtures, ejecting groundwater from sump pits, and lifting sewage to gravity sewer lines when a building sits below the sewer elevation.

Centrifugal vs. Positive Displacement, Flow Rate & Head Pressure

Pumps overcome the limitations of gravity-based plumbing systems. While most residential plumbing relies on gravity to move wastewater and on municipal pressure to deliver supply water, numerous situations require mechanical assistance. A sump pump removes groundwater that would otherwise flood a basement. A booster pump increases supply pressure when municipal pressure is inadequate. A sewage ejector or grinder pump lifts wastewater from below-grade fixtures to the building sewer.

All plumbing pumps convert electrical energy into hydraulic energy through one of two fundamental mechanisms. Centrifugal pumps use a rotating impeller to accelerate water outward, converting rotational velocity into pressure. Positive displacement pumps trap a fixed volume of fluid and force it through the discharge. Centrifugal pumps are by far the most common type in residential plumbing due to their simplicity, reliability, and ability to handle varying flow demands.

Pump performance is defined by three primary characteristics: flow rate (gallons per minute), head pressure (the vertical height the pump can lift water, measured in feet), and horsepower (the motor power that determines the pump’s capacity to do work). Selecting the correct pump requires matching these characteristics to the specific application — pipe diameter, pipe length, vertical lift, friction losses, and required flow rate at the discharge point.

Sump, Sewage Ejector, Grinder, Booster & Well Pump Types

Sump pumps sit in a sump pit below the lowest floor and remove groundwater that collects around the foundation. They discharge water to the exterior, typically through a 1.5-inch pipe, and activate automatically via a float switch when the water level rises.

Sewage ejector pumps handle wastewater including solids from below-grade bathrooms. They pump through a 2-inch or larger discharge line to the building sewer. Unlike grinder pumps, ejectors pass solids whole without grinding.

Grinder pumps add a grinding mechanism that reduces solids to a slurry, allowing discharge through smaller-diameter pressurized pipes over longer distances or greater elevations.

Booster pumps increase water supply pressure in systems where municipal pressure is too low for adequate fixture performance.

Circulator pumps move water through closed-loop systems — hot water recirculation lines or hydronic heating circuits — without significantly increasing pressure.

Condensate pumps remove condensation water from HVAC equipment and high-efficiency water heaters when gravity drainage is not available.

Well pumps (submersible or jet) draw water from private wells and pressurize the residential supply system.

Sump Flood Prevention, Water Line Boosting & Ejector Services

Pumps are integral to multiple Bonded Plumbworks service lines. Sump pump and flood prevention covers sump pump installation, repair, and battery backup systems. Water line services includes booster pump installation for low-pressure properties. Water heater services encompasses recirculation pump systems. Drain and sewer services handles sewage ejector and grinder pump installations.

In areas with high water tables and flat terrain where gravity drainage is challenging, pump systems are essential components of residential plumbing installations. Bonded Plumbworks’ technicians size and install the appropriate pump type for each application and provide ongoing maintenance to ensure reliable operation.

UL 778, State Code Section 712, ASSE 1045 & NSF/ANSI 61 Standards

UL 778 governs the safety certification of residential water pumps. The applicable state building codes specifies installation requirements for sewage pumps and ejectors under Section 712. ASSE 1045 establishes performance standards for sewage pump systems. NSF/ANSI 61 certifies pumps and components in contact with potable water.

Zoeller, Liberty Pumps, Grundfos & Wayne Pump Systems

Zoeller manufactures the M53 and M98 residential sump pumps. Liberty Pumps produces the 257 series sewage ejectors. Grundfos offers the SCALA2 booster pump. Wayne produces the CDU and SPF series for residential applications. Goulds (Xylem) provides well pumps and booster systems.