For homeowners

Types of sump pump: which one fits your basement?

Choose Pedestal (upright) sump pump for seeing the on/off switch without having to look into the sump; Submersible sump pump for sitting submerged in water on the bottom of the sump; Battery-powered backup pump for a second pump in the same sump that turns on only if the primary pump fails; Water-powered backup pump for a backup in homes with municipal / city water pressure (40 to 80 psi on one maker's data sheet).

The right choice depends on whether the pump is the primary pump or a backup, where the motor sits, how the backup is powered during an outage, and your household water pressure.

How we know: By InstaBids editorial team with AI research agents. · Sources read: 22 October 2026 · Updated 27 October 2026

NDSU Extension (2022): sump pumps are available in two basic models, upright (commonly called a pedestal) and submersible, and either works well with proper maintenance.
Type	Best for	Main advantages	Main drawbacks
Pedestal (upright) sump pump	seeing the on/off switch without having to look into the sump	ND emergency services sump pump guide (NDSU text): the action of the ball float can be easily seen	NDSU Extension (2022): the motor is not meant to get wet
Submersible sump pump	sitting submerged in water on the bottom of the sump	NDSU Extension (2022): on some models the float's on/off distance is adjustable (not on others)	NDSU Extension (2013): the submersible type needs water around the motor for cooling
Battery-powered backup pump	a second pump in the same sump that turns on only if the primary pump fails	Zoeller battery backup data sheet (2022): the system's controller keeps the battery charged	NDSU Extension (2022): battery maintenance is very important; Zoeller battery backup data sheet (2022): on a full 175 minute reserve capacity battery, the pump runs continuously for approximately 5.5 hours
Water-powered backup pump	a backup in homes with municipal / city water pressure (40 to 80 psi on one maker's data sheet)	Zoeller water-powered backup data sheet (2024): works during power failures; Zoeller water-powered backup data sheet (2024): no battery to change	Zoeller water-powered backup data sheet (2024): not intended for use as a primary water removal unit; Zoeller water-powered backup installation instructions (2026): must be installed with a listed backflow device to reduce the risk of contamination of the potable water supply; Zoeller water-powered backup installation instructions (2026): at the maker's stated test conditions, it takes one (1) gallon of supply water to remove one and a half gallons from the sump

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Sources for the facts on this page

NDSU Extension, news release: Now is the Time to Check Your Sump Pump (March 17, 2022), university extension, read 22 October 2026.
ND Department of Emergency Services, Sump Pump Questions (text from NDSU Extension Service; undated), government, read 22 October 2026.
NDSU Extension, news release: Time to Check Your Sump Pump (April 3, 2013), university extension, read 22 October 2026.
Zoeller Pump Company, Model 508 12-volt backup sump pump system technical data sheet (FM3165, rev. 0622), maker's own site, read 22 October 2026.
Zoeller Pump Company, 540 water-powered emergency backup sump pump system technical data sheet (FM3169, rev. 1224), maker's own site, read 22 October 2026.
Zoeller Pump Company, Model 540 water-powered emergency backup sump pump system installation instructions (FM3170, rev. 0426), maker's own site, read 22 October 2026.