Installing a sump pump is the single most sensible step one can take to prevent flooding and subsequent water damage in his or her home or business. These pumps prevent flooding by collecting water buildup near a home, business, or other building and dispersing it from the structure. With several advanced types of sump pumps available for installation, it has never been a better time to consider installing a sump pump to prevent flooding in your home or business.
Risks of not having a Sump Pump
According to the American Society of Home Inspectors, over 60 percent of American homes are affected by wetness below the ground. When certain areas get excessive precipitation, water can accumulate and flood surrounding buildings. This flooding can cause thousands of dollars in damage to property. Standard homeowners insurance does not typically cover flood damage, and even if a home does have flood insurance, if it floods, the premium could increase, which means a victim of flood damage will be paying for the consequences far beyond the initial repairs.
In addition to causing damage to a building’s structure and contents, moisture in the basement can also create mold or mildew that can be both unsightly and hazardous to health. According to the Center for Disease Control, breathing mold or mildew can cause symptoms including nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing, wheezing, eye irritation, skin irritation, or lung infections. Maintaining a dry environment with a sump pump could prevent the mold and mildew that causes these issues from developing in the first place.
For those who plan to eventually sell their home or building, the presence of a sump pump is attractive to potential buyers and can even increase property value. While it is not legally required for a building to have a sump pump, having one could save property owners thousands in water damage repairs. Sump pump installation will provide owners with peace of mind that they are doing everything possible to protect their buildings and belongings from water damage.
Benefits and features of sump pumps
Sump pumps work by regulating groundwater and preventing it from flooding home or building. When it rains, it is not uncommon for basements to flood. Sump pumps are able to mitigate this flooding by controlling the groundwater and preventing it from entering a building. This simple piece of equipment could save property owners, money, time, and frustration caused by unwanted water damage.
Sump pumps are generally installed below ground level or in the basements of homes, businesses, or other structures. The pumps collect water in a basin, then move the water away from the structure. There are several types of sump pumps, but the most common in residential homes are submersible pumps and pedestal pumps. Submersible pumps, the most common, sit in sump wells and operate underwater. Pedestal pumps, which are typically louder and less common than submersible pumps operate above the sump well. When the water reaches a certain level in both types of pumps, a float is activated, signaling the pump to turn on and begin removing the water. Other types of pumps include floor sucker pumps, which remove water from a flooded floor, and water-powered pumps, which integrate with a building’s plumbing to disperse water.
The Crucial Parts of a Sump Pump
If a sump pump stops working, water could overflow the sump pit and flood a structure’s basement. To ensure this doesn’t happen, many sump pumps are equipped with several features to prevent water from entering a structure even in the worst-case-scenario. Some of these features include:
Backup batteries: Sump pumps run on electricity, but their backup batteries ensure that the pump still works effectively, even if the power goes out during a high-intensity storm.
Water level alarms: When the level in the basin exceeds the top of the pump, a water level alarm can sound, signaling the home or building owner to step in and take action to prevent flooding.’
Sump liners: Sump liners prevent a sump pit from clogging.
Check valves: Check valves prevent water from returning to the pit after it is flushed away.
If a sump pump is not fully meeting a home or building owners rainfall needs, he or she can elect to upgrade the pump size, or even install a second, backup sump pump. Sump pumps typically have a lifespan of about ten years.
Structures that would especially benefit from sump pumps are those with foundations that slope towards the structure, those built in swampy areas, and those in areas with substantial rainfall. Sump pumps are a reliable investment that in the long run could save thousands in severe flooding and water damage, so consider investing in one before the next big storm hits and it’s too late.
Call Home Service Doctors today to schedule your sump pump consultation!
