This is another typical question and the response is also very simple. We are still talking about pumps (devices that move water from a location to another) however these are built with different concepts in mind.
The condensate pump is a device working in conjunction with another system producing condensation water (AC systems, boilers, furnaces, etc.). These devices are usually running continuously as long as the systems they are connected to is switched on.
The sump pump is device you have in your basement and that you use “occasionally” to remove that might be forming there due to flooding. This can be a manual pump (that you activate when needed) or an automatic system which is switched one when a determinate condition occurs.
Wikipedia offers a good explanation about what is a sump pump.
We have included some of their text below: it should give you a good understanding of what are sump pumps and when their use is suggested.
“Sump pumps are used where basement flooding happens regularly and to remedy dampness where the water table is above the foundation of a home. Sump pumps send water away from a house to any place where it is no longer problematic, such as a municipal storm drain or a dry well.
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Usually hardwired into a home’s electrical system, sump pumps may have a battery backup. The home’s pressurized water supply powers some pumps, eliminating the need for electricity at the expense of using potable water, potentially making them more expensive to operate than electrical pumps and creating an additional water disposal problem. Since a sump basin may overflow if not constantly pumped, a backup system is important for cases when the main power is out for prolonged periods of time, as during a severe storm.
There are generally two types of sump pumps — pedestal and submersible. The pedestal pump’s motor is mounted above the sump, where it is more easily serviced, but is also more conspicuous. The pump impeller is driven by a long, vertical extension shaft and the impeller is in a scroll housing in the base of the pump. The submersible pump is entirely mounted inside the sump, and is specially sealed to prevent electrical short circuits.
Sump pump systems are also utilized in industrial and commercial applications to control water table-related problems in surface soil. An artesian aquifer or periodic high water table situation can cause the ground to become unstable due to water saturation. As long as the pump functions, the surface soil will remain stable. These sumps are typically ten feet in depth or more; lined with corrugated metal pipe that contains perforations or drain holes throughout. They may include electronic control systems with visual and audible alarms and are usually covered to prevent debris and animals from falling in.“
