If you are a new homeowner, you might be wondering if your house as a sump pump or it may even be a case where you are wondering what a sump pump actually is. The thing is that many homeowners at some point in their lives have heard about sump pump, but there is a lot of confusion surrounding the topic.
Well, it’s safe to say that a sump pump is a device that has to ability to eliminate moisture from your home and prevent any form of flooding from happening. You will find these devices built in a special pit situated below the main surface of the basement and they play a role in collecting excess water from the drain and pump it out of the pit and away from your home.
The fact that sump pump are stored beneath the surface level of a basement, it’s a bit hard to recognize them when you’re just touring the house. But, it’s very important to know if your house have a sump pump in case of an emergency.
Do All Houses Need Sump Pumps?
No, that’s not the case. The reason for having a sump pump has a lot to do with your location.
If it’s a case where you are living in areas that’s prone to have heavy rain, then it’s important to have a sump pump in case of flooding. Sump pump is essential for those who live in low areas, like the bottom of a hill.
At this point, you may be wondering if you’ll need a sump pump, but base on studies done by The American Society if Home Inspectors, it is said that more than 60% of homeowners have some sort of moisture in their basement or crawl space.
There are many scenarios where some homeowners have invested in a second sump pump as a backup in case their first one stop working. If you don’t think it is necessary to install a second sump pump at this time, you could install a water alarm system that will alert you whenever there is a malfunction.
Why Do Basements or Crawl Spaces Need a Sump Pump?
Without a sump pump in these areas, excess water that pours into your home may damage the foundation, creating cracks and other issues throughout the house that can be costly.
As water accumulate outside the foundation, you can expect pressure to build up and once this occur, the water will eventually find its way through the concrete into the house. Also, if moisture isn’t removed quickly, mold will become a issue, which will eventually cause the structure to damage and health concerns for residents.
Let’s not forget that crawl space has the ability to accumulate water in the same way that basements do. Once there is an excess water, it will make its way at the lowest point.
What if My Sump Pump is Failing?
If you have a sump pump within your home, but you are still noticing water moisture, then it could be that your sump pump is failing. Although these devices don’t easily break and can last for many years, there are several reasons why it may not be working, which can lead to flooding inside your house.
As you may already know, when there is an power outage, your sump pump will eventually stop working. The sad news is that these storms usually comes with weather conditions that can bring forth flooding. This is the very reason why homeowners tend to install a backup sump pump that operates on battery power just to ensure that the home is well protected when there’s an power outage.
Another thing that may cause an issue is the horsepower of a sump pump, it could be that it is too high or low for the sump pit. What this does is cause the pump to run for too long or too hot, which takes a toll with its lifespan.
Several other things that may lead to your sump pump not working as it should include leaky check valves, float switch not working, and blocked or frozen discharge line.