Basements and crawl spaces frequently face the risk of flooding. To protect your home from water damage, buying a sump pump is a good idea. These devices offer protection against water damage caused by intermittent flooding due to heavy rains, flooding during natural disasters, and plumbing backups.
Additionally, sump pumps remove sewage or other accumulated water from low areas of a home where a line that moves water to the drain system is absent.
How does the sump pump work?
It works by moving accumulated water in a basin or pit and pushing it outside or to a drainage area outdoors. The pit or tank is located below the surface at the lowest part of the home, typically in a basement or crawl space. The pump has valves that sense rising water levels or pressure. When the water level gets too high, the device automatically pumps excess water using a discharge line to a designated drainage area. A dry basement and crawl space can protect a home from excess water and other issues.
Benefit
Adding a sump pump can benefit a home in several ways.
- Firstly, it can remove excess water and prevent seepage into walls and the foundation. This, in turn, helps protect wall coverings from peeling or showing stains and keeps the foundation intact.
- Secondly, it can dry basements and crawl spaces, improve indoor air quality, discourage pests, and reduce mildew, mold, and fungus.
- Third, A dry basement and crawl space can also make a home more comfortable year-round and prevent corrosion on basement appliances.
While many homeowners’ insurance policies do not automatically cover flooding damages, some offer an add-on “endorsement” coverage (at an extra cost) to cover water damage caused by sump pump failure.
Primary sump pumps are commonly used in homes to pump water from basements or crawl spaces. These pumps are typically AC-powered, and two types are used: submersible and pedestal.
Submersible
Are installed in a sump pit and designed to function underwater. They are ideal for finished basements but are usually more expensive than pedestal pumps. On the other hand, pedestal-type sump pumps are vertical pumps with an impeller at the base. The motor is not in the water but at the top of the pump.
Pedestal
Pedestal sump pumps are typically less expensive and more accessible to repair due to the easy access to the motor. However, they are noisier since the motor is exposed.
Battery backup sump pumps:
If the primary pump fails, a backup pump takes over. However, backup pumps are less potent than primary sump pumps and are designed to perform other functions. As the name suggests, these pumps run on batteries.
Combination sump pumps combine a primary pump with a battery-operated backup pump in one system. Like backup pumps, the backup pump will automatically activate if the primary pump malfunctions or a power failure occurs.
Sump pumps are also used in sewage and septic systems. In a sewage system, they move solid waste or collected debris to the main sewer line.
A sump pump is an indispensable machine that can keep a home dry. However, only some homes need one. It is advisable to install a sump pump if the house meets the following criteria:
- If the area routinely receives a lot of heavy rain or snow,
- If the home is in a low-lying area, and the lower regions of the property have standing water after a rain event.
- If the basement has flooded before or the home regularly struggles with high moisture levels in the basement.
Arch Plumbing is in St Charles, Missouri, and has been in the service business since 2008, providing quality plumbing services.