When you have a basement, the surrounding walls need to have a pipe drain system that collects ground water. The system is installed along the foundations and is composed of perforated pipes. The water seeps through the perforated pipes and then they are channeled to the sump pit.The sump pit is usually located below the basement of your home.
A sump pump is a submersible water pump that is usually installed at the sump pit. It is controlled by a float valve or switch. It turns on when the float valve detects that the water has reached a certain level. It them drains the water from the sump pit by pumping it to the nearest storm drain.
Modern homes usually have a sump pump system installed. However, older houses that don’t have one can be still be installed with a sump pump to avoid flooding in the basement. Specialized plumbing companies offer this kind of service.
Table of Contents
Sump Pump Installation
Sump pumps can be integrated into the electrical system of you home or it can be plugged to an outlet. They also have a backup battery power that continues that operation of the sump pump even during a power outage. This is very helpful in times of severe storms because it pumps water out of your home and prevents flooding.
If your home is located in an area that encounters frequent and long power outages, a regular battery backup may not be enough. You may need another battery powered sump pump or a water powered backup sump pump. Your local plumbing company can offer you many options.
Sump Pump Maintenance
Your sump pump should be inspected and tested on a periodic basis to ensure that it will functiom when you need it the most: during severe weather. To test, pour a bucket of water into the sump pit. The pump should turn on automatically and pump out the water from the sump pit. It should also shut off right after. Check that the float valve moves freely.
You also need to clean the sump pit to keep the pump running efficiently. Remove dirt, sand, and other debris using necessary cleaning tools. Free the discharge opening from any obstructions so that water can be pumped out and it doesnr get stuck. You can opt to hire a plumber if you don’t have the time to do it yourself.
Your backup sump pump should also be part of your routine inspection. If in case a power outage occurs during heavy rains, the backup pump will do the work. It will keep you from spending a large amount of money due to water damage.
Sump Pump Replacement and Repair
Over a long period time, your sump pump will eventually need replacement. There is no hard rule on how often a sump pump should be replaced. You will know it’s time when the condition of the pump has deteriorated. This largely depends on how often it is used and if you do frequent maintenance. Do plumbers fix sump pumps? Of course! If you think that your sump pump needs replacement, contact a professional plumbing service provider.
