Diagram of a Properly Installed Submersible Sump Pump
A sump pump is a mechanical thing that has moving parts. As with anything that has moving parts, they are prone to breaking or burning uout. One of the most important considerations when looking for a sump pump that won't burn out quickly is to do your research. Only buy one that has been designed to properly disperse the heat that is generated when the sump pump motor has been running hard for long periods of time.
Any sump pump that you choose should not have what is referred to as a "can" motor. "Can" motors are sump pump motors that have been mass-produced and are then shipped to the manufacturer in a metal casing. Those motors are then placed in a second sump pump casing. The problem with this system is that there are now two layers around the motor which holds much more heat in and will cause the motor to run hotter.
Cast iron sump pumps better disperse the heat in your sump pump and prevent them from burning out as much as other designs. The sump pump design should allow the heat that is generated by a sump pump to easily escape. It it doesn't the housing will become distorted by the heat and will also affect the bearings. So, before you by a cast-iron sump pump, you want to make sure that at least the middle housing is cast-iron and not plastic or some other metal. Be aware that just because a sump pump is advertised as being cast-iron doesn't mean that plastic was not used in the middle casing.
