Give a Home the Gift of Proper Drainage with a Sump Pump
Basements are a great asset to any home. They can provide significant storage and room opportunities that might otherwise be lacking. It can benefit, but a basement can also be a burden. Because it is below ground, a basement can sometimes flood if there are serious storms or even a broken pipe. This is where the essential nature of the sump pump is revealed.
Most basements have a sunken area called a sump pump basin or sump pit. The basement floor is designed with a slight slope toward this area, so that is where the water will go. The sump pump can then pump it out of the basement into a less harmful yard area or directly into the sewers. So why are sump pumps something every homeowner with a basement needs this holiday? The next few paragraphs should explain.
Sump Pump Installation: Is It Really That Important?
Sump pumps should be one of those things that sit in their place and are rarely needed. They are something like a physical form of house insurance. A homeowner needs one, but they hopefully will not need to use it. Here are just a few of the reasons a home should have a sump pump:
- Sump pumps prevent water damage to the things stored in the basement
- They remove excess rainwater and deal with potential sewage problems
- They lower the humidity in the basement area
- They reduce the incidence of mold and mildew growth
Again, the sump pump is more about preventing problems before they occur or as they occur. Instead of the household having to deal with a flooded basement, they might simply have to put a few things out to dry.
The Various Types of Sump Pumps
There are two main types of sump pumps: the submersible sump pump and the pedestal sump pump. Each type has pros and cons, and it may be advisable to have one as a backup. Both are typically activated by a sump pump float switch that detects water. The two pumps can be explained as follows:
Pedestal Pumps:
- The motor of the pedestal pump sits outside the sump pump basin. It takes up more room, but the hose fits into smaller sump basins.
- It is louder and not as powerful as a submersible pump.
- It tends to last longer because the motor is not submerged.
Submersible Pumps:
- These pumps fit directly into the sump pit or sump basin.
- It is a more powerful pump and quieter as it is underwater.
- It may not last as long because the parts wear out more quickly underwater.
The Luxury of the Backup Sump Pump
Most sump pumps are connected to the house's electrical grid through an outlet, or wired directly in. But sometimes, in a bad storm, the power will go out. Then how does a household keep the water out of their basement? Many of these devices have what is known as a sump pump battery backup. This means that the battery kicks in to keep the pump running when a break in the electricity is detected. Alternatively, a house could install a secondary pump or a battery backup sump pump, which will only come on if the regular pump is not working.
About Bud's Plumbing & Repair Service
Bud's Plumbing & Repair Service has been helping the people of Evansville, IN and the surrounding communities for over 100 years. Call today for fast sump pump service and helpful, fully licensed, and insured technicians.
