Water in your basement can ruin belongings, create an unhealthy living environment, and damage the foundation of your home. A sump pump is a device that protects your home from water damage by removing groundwater that has accumulated around the foundation of the house. It is installed in the lowest part of the basement or crawlspace and pumps water out and away from the home.Â
Types of Sump Pumps
There are two types of sump pumps: submersible and pedestal. Submersible pumps are submerged in the water, while pedestal pumps are not. Both types of pumps are effective at removing water from the home, but submersible pumps are more popular because they are less likely to get stuck on objects in the basin and are less likely to overheat.
How Sump Pumps Work
Water enters the sump pit through drains or by seeping through cracks in the foundation’s walls or floor. The sump pit is usually only 2 feet deep and 18 inches wide. Sump pumps remove water that has accumulated in the basin, or sump, and pump it out of the home to avoid flooding. The way they work is by using a float switch that is attached to the pump. As more water enters the pit, it eventually activates the float switch, which turns the pump on. The pump then moves water out of the pit through a discharge pipe. Once the water level in the pit drops below the float switch, it signals the pump to turn off. The discharge pipe typically runs to an area where it will not cause any damage, such as to another drain, or to daylight (an opening to the outside).Â
The sump pump consists of three main parts: an impeller, a motor, and a housing unit. The impeller is the part of the sump pump that does the actual work of moving the water. It is a rotating blade that pulls water into the center of the pump and then pushes it out through the discharge pipe. The motor powers the impeller. It is usually electric and runs on either 120- or 240-volt electricity. The housing unit encases the impeller and motor and keeps them from coming into contact with any debris that might be in the water.Â
Some pumps have additional features, such as backup power sources or battery-operated pumps, to ensure that even during a power outage, water will continue to be pumped out of the basement and away from the home’s foundation.Â
Sump pumps have a big responsibility: preventing flooding and protecting your home from water damage and expensive repairs. Keep a sump pump in good condition, and it will perform dependably for many years. But if you neglect to service it, you could end up with a destructive and costly mess on your hands. If your home needs plumbing services, trust High Priority Plumbing and Services, Inc. to get the sump pump system working properly. We also offer preventative maintenance such as drain cleaning to keep your lines flowing and draining properly. If you have a basement, you can rely on the plumbers at High Priority Plumbing and Services, Inc. to install your sump pump, giving you peace of mind that your basement and home are protected.
