Importance Of A Sump Pump In Your Basement

A sump pump prevents water flooding in your basement. Since the basement of a house is built under ground, when the soil of the ground gets saturated with rain water it can leak into the basement. And leaking in the basement can cause an enormous amount of damage. Most basements have a sump pit that is designed to collect water that leaks in. The sump pump is specially designed to remove this water accumulation from your basement without incident.

History tells us that the invention of the sump pump was first used in New England or the Great Lakes area in the north east of the United States, to eliminate the problem of basement flooding. The modern day sump pumps are usually used in new homes that include a basement and when added to the relatively older homes, the owners often see their insurance rates lowered considerably.

Sump pumps are mostly used in areas that have lots of flooding, or in houses that are below the water table line. However, they are useful as a precaution in any house that has a basement, since that basement is always at least partially underground.

There are two basic types of sump pumps; the submersible type and the pedestal type. The pedestal type pump is designed with the motor placed on top of the sump pit for better convenience and easy handling and because it is more visible, it will be an issue for you if your basement is decorated.

The submersible sump pump on the other hand is completely submersed in the sump pit. Its insides are completely sealed off to prevent electrical problems, but it is a little difficult to access in the event of a failure when the water is standing.

Which ever of the sump pumps it is, a check valve is required in both of them. It is actually a one way water valve that allows water to flow from the pump and through the drainage pipes, while preventing the water from draining off back into the basement. It is also recommended to have a cover to keep small children away from plugging the pipes as they flow through.

Normally, only 120v household power is required to install a sump pump. In some conditions such as an emergency, normal household power is not available. In this case, a battery backup power system that consists of a regular automobile battery and a power generator does quite well.

You should have a regular maintenance schedule of every years to keep your basement sump pump in dependable condition for a long time. You should also remove any kind of sand and dirt from the sump pit, otherwise, the life of components like the check valve could be unduly shortened, allowing water to flow into your basement. Always unplug the system and scoop sediments from the pit before you clean the sump pump. You can do that by using a wet or dry shop vac. Then, test the system by reconnecting any pipes removed and fill the pit with some water to make sure everything works as expected.

Jonathon Lester is the author of this article. Sump Pump prevents water flooding in your basement. For more details visit - ksbasementrepair.com

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