If you have had problems with flooding in your basement then you need to purchase a sump pump to improve the situation and to rid your home of excess water that can cause problems. The more knowledgeable you are about sump pumps the easier it will be for you to make an informed and educated decision about the product.Sump pumps can be bought through waterproof contractors, plumbing wholesalers and retailers in the closest mall. They range in price according to the features they have and the quality of them. You could pay as little as $60 for one or as much as $500. Figure out your budget for a pump before you go shopping for one.One of the first things you must decide about sump pumps is do you need a pedestal pump or a submersible pump? Pedestal pumps are the cheapest of the two and they are the cheapest to fix but are very obvious looking. Submersible pumps on the other hand can be placed out of sight and are quieter to operate. They tend to be safer if you have children and/or pets in your home. This type will cost you more money though because it is more sophisticated in nature. If someone in your household has a bedroom in the basement then the submersible type is your best bet because it is quiet and unobtrusive.Submersible pumps, as the name implies, are submerged in water and because they spend so much time in water their life span can run anywhere from five to 15 years. Pedestal pumps have more longevity- they can last anywhere from 25 to 30 years if you take good care of them. It helps to know that the life of a pump is closely tied to the conditions that it works under and how often it is used. Most manufacturers of sump pumps offer their customers one year warranties that are limited to just that length of time.You need to know that not all pumps are made with the same type of switches. There are mercury switches, diaphragms and floats. The kind you select does not really make a lot of difference. However you want to choose an automatic control switch as opposed to a manual one. The reason for this is very straightforward- there is a good chance that you will not be home when your basement begins to flood which is why you need a switch that will automatically be aware that water is coming in and will begin to do its job immediately upon detection.Having an automatic switch will also protect your pump and will help to preserve its life. A manual control on a pump is such that the pump can burn out if it is left to run dry for an extended period of time. If you purchase an automatic control on the pump then you will prevent this from taking place.The strength of a unit is connected in with the cost of it. In most causes the cheapest pumps also tend to be the weakest ones that have the least power. A pump is measured according to horsepower. The horsepower can range anywhere from 1/6 to 1/2 HP.