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What Is a Sump Pump and How Does it Prevent Floods?
Do you live in an area that receives a lot of snowfall, or in a rainy climate? Is your home vulnerable to floods, perhaps due to poor soil quality? Is your basement space especially important to you because you use it as a bedroom or office?
In all of these cases, installing a sump pump can help you. Sump pumps can protect your property from serious water damage. By making a small investment, you could potentially save thousands by preventing basement floods.
What Is a Sump Pump?
A sump pump is a pump installed at the lowest point within your home, within a sump pit — typically a basement, but sump pumps may be installed in crawl spaces as well. You can think of a sump pump as a device that fulfills a similar role as a sprinkler system. If everything goes right, you won’t need it, but it will be there if something does go wrong.
When groundwater around your basement or crawl space reaches dangerously high levels, the sump pump will detect this water and activate. The sump pump will then remove the water that is threatening to flood your basement or crawl space and evacuate it to a predetermined area, such as a dry well or storm drain. As a result, your basement will stay dry, and you avoid the many unpleasant consequences associated with basement flooding — both in terms of property damage and health hazards.
Why Consider Getting a Sump Pump?
Not everyone needs a sump pump, but if you do live in a rainy or snowy climate, in an area where you have to combat rising groundwater levels, or in an area with soil that drains poorly, you could benefit by investing in one.
In these cases, your sump pump will prevent flooding, but also:
- Improve your air quality
- Make your basement less hospitable to mold and mildew
- Protect your foundation walls
- Protect appliances within your basement
Standard homeowners’ insurance typically doesn’t include flood coverage, and if you are in an area where you would want to purchase it, your insurance provider is also likely to require you to install a sump pump.
Can Sump Pumps Cause Floods?
As with any appliance, a sump pump can develop problems and stop functioning properly. In these cases, you not only risk basement or crawl space floods, but the water collected by the sump pump may also be deposited in unwanted places.
The drainage system could be clogged or broken, or simply poorly installed. A leak could develop, with potentially disastrous consequences. This is why it is crucial to visually inspect your sump pump and ensure that it is in good working order, both seasonally and right before flooding is expected. If you suspect a leak somewhere along the drainage system, calling a professional leak detection company is advised. This will make sure that your sump pump can do its job and protect your home, rather than creating new problems.