When you have plumbing work done or work done on your basement, you may hear the words “sump pump,” and you may even advised that you need one. So, it would probably be a good idea if you knew what one was, right? Well, first, you should know what a sump is. A sump is a pit, called a sump pit, most commonly found in the basement, used to collect water that leaks or drains into the floors of the basement. So, a sump pump is the pump installed in that pit to remove all of that water. As Quality Dry Basements owner Charles Pellaton explains, this acts as a sort of water removal system.
Sump pumps are used for homes that are in areas where basement flooding is common. Otherwise, you would probably go with the once and for all waterproofing, to simply prevent flooding. But when flooding is a common occurrence thanks to climate and weather conditions, a sump pump is an efficient way to collect all of the water and then get it out of there. Don’t worry: This doesn’t mean you’ll be down in your basement pumping manually for an hour. The pump is most often actually wired into the home’s electrical system, with battery backup, so it can work on its own and clear out any water that comes in as it comes in. A pump can also be powered by the home’s pressurized water supply system. The pump sends the water away from the home, and is usually hooked up to a dry well or a municipal storm drain. This means no work on your part, so you can rest assured that the pump is hard at work on its own, getting rid of any water that collects in the basement. The pump pumps on its own, and sends the water to the drain or well it’s hooked up to on its own.
There are two types of sump pumps for you and your basement contractor to choose from, depending on your needs. A pedestal pump is installed to sit above the pit. This means that it’s more noticeable, but it also means that it’s much more easily accessible to service and monitor. Then, there is the submersible pump. This pump is actually built into the pit so it is completely invisible – it is sealed to prevent any electrical problems. This means should it ever need servicing, the pit has to be broken into in order to access the pump.
Sump pumps do need to be examined every year, and a submersible pump can at least be checked without digging up the put. However if it is in fact discovered that there is a problem, the pump will have to be pulled up. The yearly service is mostly about cleaning the sump pump out. Simply by performing its function of collecting groundwater, the pump naturally collects dirt and debris. That needs to be cleaned out, surprising less often than you’d think, but it still needs to be done to allow the pump to work to its fullest potential. The pipes the pump is hooked up to should also be checked to make sure they also remain clear, as should the check valve, or the component that actually controls, or allows, the water flowing up the pipes from the pipes and to the drain it’s destined for.
Your basement contractor will help you decide what method of water control is best for your basement, as again, a sump pump is best for basements of homes that are prone to some flooding. In that case, a sump pump can really keep the home safe and dry without you, the homeowner, having to constantly monitor and worry.
