Everything You Need To Know About Sump Pumps
A flooded basement is a homeowner’s nightmare. A sump pump protects your home from heavy rains and rising waters that leave behind enormous repair costs and structural damages. However, many people don’t know much about how sump pumps operate.
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Below, we at PCS Southern CT will guide you through everything you need about a sump pump so you can purchase one for your home or know how to work with the one you already have.
How Do They Work?
Sump pumps are cylindrical pumps that operate out of your basement or crawlspace. Sump pumps automatically pump excess water out of the house and away from your property. In the event of a flood, sump pumps are always there to immediately begin pumping water out of your home to mitigate the effects of a flood.
Sump Pumps Are Also Preventative
Not only can sump pumps remove water from your basement, but they can also pump groundwater away from the basement. Some pumps activate when they sense water in the soil, preventing the problem before it ever arises. They will then drain the water out of the soil and away from your home. Specifically, sump pumps help prevent 1) mold damage by keeping excess water out of your basement, 2) fires by keeping floodwater out of electrical circuits or outlets, and 3) most obviously water damage by mitigating the effects of any flood that occurs in your basement or crawl space.
There Are Several Different Types Of Sump Pumps
There are four main types of sump pumps. These are pedestal pumps, submersible pumps, battery-operated backup pumps, and water-powered backup pumps. Pedestal pumps are good for smaller basements that are mostly used for storage. Submersible pumps are better for larger basements that are lived in a fair amount of the time. It’s also recommended that you keep a backup sump pump on hand just in case your primary pump fails. Water-powered backups respond to an increase in water pressure while battery-powered backups operate when the main power source is disconnected.
Sump Pump Maintenance
Professionals recommend doing a few different things to keep your sump pumps in good working order. These include:
- Cleaning the grate at the bottom of the sump pit
- Ensure the air gap between the internal and external discharge pipes is clear
- Regularly check to make sure your sump pump circuit has not tripped
- Remove any debris that has accumulated in the pump
- Test the sump pump often to ensure the float is not stuck
Without getting too technical, there is still a lot to know about sump pumps when it comes to helping you prevent extensive water damage. Fortunately, you don’t need to be an expert. As long as you have a functional sump pump installed if your home floods, you will be well prepared to mitigate the damage and clean up the mess. Finally, for whatever mess you still have to deal with, give us a call at PCS Southern CT to help to care of the rest.