Sump Pumps

Whether you have a beautifully finished basement or are using your basement to store valuable items, flooding can destroy your belongings and cost you thousands of dollars in repairs. Unexpected water in your basement can damage irreplaceable family heirlooms, walls, floors, furniture, and can also lead to dangerous mold issues.

What causes a basement to flood?

Especially in our area, basements are at great risk of flooding without proper precautions in place. Below are some of the most common causes of a flooded basement:

Plumbing leaks. This could be a burst or leaking pipe, a leaking waste line, a broken supply hose for your washing machine, or a leaking water heater.

Leaking basement windows. If your window wells fill with water (from a flooded yard or clogged gutters), don’t be surprised if water leaks into the basement through and around the windows.

Leaky basement foundation. This is by far the most common cause of basement flooding. Excessive amounts of rain, poor yard drainage, and sewer backups are frequent issues behind a leaky foundation.

How do we protect our basement from damage and avoid flooding?

Thankfully homeowners can manage a wet basement problem by using a sump pump, which is a small pump stationed in the basement that sends water out to a more acceptable location, such as a properly graded yard or a municipal storm drain. It’s a simple concept. Rather than keeping water out completely, a sump pump system controls how water gathers beneath your home, then pumps it out after it’s collected.

Remember, sump pumps don’t prevent water from accumulating, but they can go a long way in controlling water in your basement. That’s why we always recommend a backup pump along with your primary pump.

Because homes sometimes lose power during thunderstorms — just when an operational sump pump is most critical — many pumping systems utilize a backup pump. Emergency sump pump battery backup pumps work when the power goes out, when the primary pump does not remove the water fast enough, or if the primary pump fails. In this setup, primary pumps are powered with electricity, and backup pumps are powered by battery or water pressure.

Using two pumps instead of one decreases the likelihood that both pumps will malfunction at the same time. With the alarm system, you’ll be able to tell when the primary pump has failed, and the backup pump must be used instead. Test them regularly and make sure the check valve is functioning, so water doesn’t flow back into the basement. County Line Plumbing will walk you through the pros and cons of each type of sump pump and back up system to determine what fit is best for your basement’s protection.