Sump Pumps
Homeowners who have a basement may find themselves in need of a sump pump. When a basement floods, even occasionally, steps must be taken immediately to correct the problem. The best way to do that is to install a sump pump. A sump pump hole is drilled into the basement floor. The sump pump is then placed into the opening and attached to the water drainage system of the house.
Sump pumps run on electrical currents and automatically turn on and off depending on the level of water building up in the basement. It is most useful during periods of heavy rain. It is important to note that sump pumps will not work if the power is down. Since most electrical outages occur during storms, this could be disastrous. Consider a sump pump with a battery backup to ensure that the sump pump works properly during storms.
If a sump pump fails to work, the basement will eventually flood again. That leaves the home open to mold and mildew. These conditions cause the basement to smell badly. Mold, if left too long, can cause illness. That coupled with losing property that is stored in the basement area are the best reasons to consider having sump pumps installed in basements.
A professional should be called to install the original sump pump because of the necessity to drill the sump pump “tank”. This is not a do-it-yourself project because of the great amount of damage it could cause when creating the hole. After the original sump pump is installed, it is very easy to replace in the future without the need to call in a professional.
Sump pumps save thousands of homes from flooding every year. They are well worth the cost of having one installed if the basement is susceptible to flooding during heavy rainfall. The cost of damages, especially in finished basements, can run into thousands of dollars.
In order to maintain the sump pump system, keep a close check to make certain it is still working properly. The best time to check on the pump is when rainfall begins. If there is a particularly heavy rainfall for long periods of time, make certain the pump did not burn up. That can happen if it works too hard to keep the water out of the basement and is a common occurrence.
Types of Sump Pumps
There are a couple of different types of sump pumps you should be aware of. Each has its positives and negatives and while one type may be best suited to some situations, another type may work best in other situations. Read more about the different varieties of sump pumps used in basement waterproofing applications:
Sump Pump Cost
Sump pump costs can vary depending on if you are doing the installation yourself, as well as what type of sump pump you are purchasing and the material and motor size that the sump pump uses.
Read more about sump pump costs.
Sump Pump Maintenance
Even if you already have a sump pump in your basement you should be checking to make sure that it will do what you need when it's needed. There is nothing worse than having a false sense of security and relying on a sump pump that may not be what you need.
Read more about the proper sump pump maintenance.
Sump Pump Installation
Installing a sump pump is not overly difficult but it can be hard physical work and may be too much for a basic DIY project. If you do not want to use a professional to help you install your sump pump, you can read more here about how to properly install a sump pump in your basement.