How Would a Sump Pump Benefit My Home?
When it comes to keeping up with your household, there are a lot of things to consider, both seasonal repairs, as well as maintenance, upkeep, yard work, the list goes on…But what about when it comes to the basement? For many homeowners, the basement or sub-cellar can often be an afterthought when it comes to maintenance and upgrades, but it shouldn’t: it’s the foundation of your home.
So how do you keep your basement in top shape? Well, one way is by investing in a sump pump, especially if you live in an area of particularly low elevation that might be prone to flooding on occasion. Alternatively, your home may be in a location with a relatively high water table. (For example the Maynard area near Brockville is well known for basement flooding of this type; almost all the homes have sump pumps!) It’s no secret that flooding can do unthinkable damage to a home, but having a sump pump can help you avoid significant structural damage in the case of water entering your basement.
As one of the area’s leading plumbing services companies, Toshack wants to provide you with some information to help determine whether a sump pump is right for your Kingston or Brockville home, so read on!
What Are Sump Pumps?
Before diving too deep into the details, it’s important to understand what sump pumps are and what they’re designed to do. Unfortunately, if you already know what a sump pump is, it probably means you’ve already been a victim of basement flooding. As the name implies, sump pumps are designed to collect water that has entered an area of lower elevation and pump it out to a higher area outdoors, where it can be safely flushed away from your home. It’s most often installed in the crawl space in your home or basement or other areas that are more prone to flooding.
Those who live in areas of higher elevation that aren’t prone to flooding might not necessarily require one. However, it isn’t a bad investment to make, especially if you have an older home or one that’s experienced foundation issues. Prior to investing in a sump pump, it’s important to have a plumbing expert assess your home first to ensure that all of your pipes and plumbing components are in working order.
Some Alternatives to Sump Pumps
Although sump pumps are the leading component to reduce flooding damage, there are also some other measures you can take that will help you avoid such a scenario, including repairing your gutters and providing them with proper maintenance. It’s important to ensure that when it rains, all of the rainwater from your roof is traveling away from your home and deposited safely in another area. Additionally, ensuring that all of the surface areas outdoors surrounding your home, like patios, are sloping away and can adequately direct rainwater away from your foundation is key.
How Do I Find the Right Sump Pump?
Just as many households are different, so too are sump pumps, so it’s important to find the proper one for your needs. If you have issues in your home due to flooding that can’t be corrected simply, then you likely need to invest in a sump pump to prevent further structural damage. There are several different types of pumps, the most popular being submersible pumps, and pedestal pumps.
- Submersible Pumps: This type of pump is recommended for homes with larger sump basins and can be easily installed with a lid on top of it to reduce noise. Additionally, the air-tight lids they employ will prevent moisture from entering your household.
- Column Pumps: Unlike submersible pumps, the motor for a column-type sump pump is above the projected water level; they are often used where the sump pit is smaller. They are typically less robust than a submersible pump but they can be useful for the right situation.
In addition to considering the two pump types, you should also be aware of the different components sump pumps contain. If you want your pump to be as durable as possible, investing in one with a cast-iron rather than a plastic core is recommended. Also, pumps with screenless intakes and impellers to handle solid material like dirt and mud will help prevent clogs and costly breakdowns.
Lastly, pumps with mechanical switches are beneficial because they help prevent the pump from burning out or becoming waterlogged when in use. Some even come with alarms to warn you when levels are too high for a pump to process.
Is Having a Backup or Second Pump Necessary
Some homes where a sump pump is needed might also want to consider investing in a backup or secondary system, should their primary system fail for one reason or another. This is especially important to consider if you’re living in a basement or keep your valuable belongings in your basement or crawl space. A secondary pump system will help ensure that if your primary system fails, the secondary one takes over the pumping duties immediately without delay.
Even if you don’t need to install a second pump, at least investing in a backup battery as a fail-safe is a good idea. This way, if a storm knocks out your power your pump will still work. Some are designed to last up to several days, protecting you from flooding even if your power doesn’t come back on.
If you’ve ever had a flood or your area is prone to flooding, investing in a sump pump can help prevent costly repairs and damage that is time-consuming to fix. Not to mention all of the cleanup and remediation work that’s involved with a flood.
Contact us today for your plumbing & HVAC needs!
If you’re in need of a reliable sump pump installation crew in Kingston or Brockville, you can count on Toshack. In addition to our sump pump services, we’re also equipped to install tankless water heaters, perform heating repairs on boilers and furnaces, install ductless AC systems, and more.
Contact us today online or by calling 1 (888) 547-6162 to learn more about our services or request a FREE QUOTE.