For many people, the ideal home is one that includes some extra living and storage space on top of its advertised square footage. In most cases, this bonus space comes in the form of a basement. Basements can offer homeowners a world of possibilities. Some people like to use their basements as play areas and game rooms, whereas others prefer to convert theirs into the home office or gym. Of course, the problem with many basements is that they can often be subject to flooding, especially during periods of intense, heavy rain. A wet basement can not only immediately damage to a person’s property or stored possessions, but it can also affect the integrity of the home’s foundation and lead to mold problems over time. Whether you use your basement for added living space or for storage, it’s important to take steps to protect it from accumulating excess water. One method of doing so involves the installation of a sump pump.
Walter Tulecki is the owner of WT Mechanical, which has catered to Central New Jersey’s plumbing, heating, and cooling needs for 15 years, and he says that sump pumps can be pivotal in protecting basements from flooding and the associated damage that can come along with it. A sump pump is a pump used to remove excess or accumulated water from a sump pit, which is a hole dug into the ground to collect water. During periods of excessive rain, a sump pump will pump water away from the home, thereby keeping the basement — as well as the space beneath the basement — free of water and flooding. Sump pumps are installed in a manner that enables them to work on their own, which means that homeowners with sump pumps do not have to subject themselves to the unpleasantness of having to manually pump out their own excess water.
There are two types of sump pumps. The first is the submersible kind, which is built directly into the sump pit and is completely invisible. The second type is the pedestal pump; also known as an upright pump, it sits above the sump pit, thereby extending itself above the floor of the basement. Both types of sump pumps are thought to perform equally well, and those who hire plumbing professionals for sump pump installation tend to simply follow the recommendations of their specific contractors as far as which type to use.
Remember, a basement can be wonderful, but it can also become the source of financial strain and aggravation in the event that it gets flooded. By having a sump pump installed, you can do your part to ensure that your basement will remain dry and structurally sound so that you can enjoy it to the fullest extent for many years to come.
