The invaluable power of a sump pump protects your home from flooding, heavy rainfall, and moisture that accumulates around the foundation. Quality systems can handle large volumes of water, providing an incredible buffer against torrential downpours and rapidly rising water levels. With benefits like built-in batteries for seamless functionality during power outages, ease of installation/maintenance, and long-term savings over water damage costs, these protective systems work hard so you don’t have to.
If you are shopping for a new home, be sure to ask your realtor which style of pump the home comes equipped with. This is a must-have if you’re searching for a home in a flood zone or an area with heavy rainfall. Sump pumps come as a standard home feature on most properties, and are an important addition to consider even in dry regions due to intermittent storms and neighboring property runoff.
If you already own a home with a sump pump (or you don’t have one yet), it’s important that you understand why you need one, how they work, common problems to be aware of, and how to manage the system if an issue arises. Like a quality insurance policy, learning the basics about your system and keeping up with routine maintenance and repairs is the easiest way to protect your home from unexpected water disasters!
How Do Sump Pumps Work?
The pump mechanism is placed inside a sump pit, generally located at the lowest section of your basement or crawl space. After the water fills to a certain level within the pit, the sump pump’s sensor triggers the pump, forcing the water up and away from the home. Most systems will discharge the collected water out through a storm drainage line or down a sloped section of your property.
Types of Sump Pumps & Main Differences
The two most common sump pump designs are submersible and pedestal styles. They operate using the same principles, with the main difference being the placement of the motor. With a submersible pump, the entirety of the mechanism is housed within the sump pit. The submersible style is much less obtrusive and operates more quietly, but these systems cost more. With the pedestal pump, the pump motor sits above the pit, requiring slightly more space, costing less, and producing noticeable motor noise when the system is operating.
Common Sump Pump Issues & Prevention
Like any system with moving parts and active drainage, both mechanical errors and water line issues can affect your system’s performance. The most common issues stem from problems with the drainage line. Blockages come from clogs within the pit, at the output, or within the drainage line itself. Everything from natural debris and dirt accumulation to ice formation and pests can lead to unexpected blockage.
To prevent the majority of clogs, routine inspection is the key. Look within the sump pump pit for dirt or pest accumulation, and visibly inspect the output every few months to ensure that your system is clear and ready to go. Additionally, verifying that your drainage lines are adequately insulated from freezing temperatures is critical to the continued performance of your system. For assistance with line inspection, blockages, or to double-check the quality of your sump pump’s drainage setup, get in touch with us at Restoration 360 and we’ll handle the rest.
With mechanical or electrical issues, the most common issues arise from aging components, overworked motors, and electrical outages. Unless you’re a DIY expert that’s ready to get your hands dirty, give our Philadelphia sump pump repair pros a call first. We can handle wiring issues, and faulty pump mechanisms, and work fast to restore your sump pump to its original, high-flow performance.
Sump Pump Care & Replacement
Fortunately, sump pump care and inspection are relatively easy to do. Once or twice a year, you should inspect and clean the system to ensure that everything is working well. You may have to refer to your sump pump’s manual, research your specific model online, or you can reach out to our team at Restoration 360 and we’ll take care of every maintenance detail.
Even the best sump pump designs will eventually fail. In general, with annual maintenance and quality repair services, you can expect your system to last for 7-10 years. For detailed advice about any of the topics above, get in touch with our team for sump pump education, and care tips, or ask us about a brand-new sump pump installation for less!
