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Imagine this: An unexpected, powerful storm descends over your city. Rain pummels your home and leaks into your basement. As a result, water damage wreaks havoc on your home, furniture, and belongings. It’s a nightmare!
Whether or not you live in a flood-prone location, sump pumps can prevent a scenario like this from occurring. Below, we’ll go over what a sump pump is and the many benefits of sump pumps.
Essentially, a sump pump is the superhero of your home. It works by removing water in your basement out of your home and to a designated area. Professionals install a sump pump by digging a sump pit in your house’s crawl space or basement.
Sump pumps are designed to work whenever necessary. During heavy rain, the soil around your house will oversaturate with water. The excess groundwater is channeled into the sump pump, turning on the sump pump float switch. This process activates the pump.
There are many designated places sump pump water can be drained to, such as a creek, pond, or neighborhood drain. Building codes in certain cities may require your sump pump to drain to a certain location.
It’s vital to make sure the drain point is facing away from your home.
Now that you know what a sump pump is, it’s crucial to know the many benefits of sump pumps, especially if your home is flood-prone. The most significant benefit is that sump pumps prevent your basement from flooding. Water damage can be harmful not only to your property and valuables but also to your health. Mold caused by moisture can increase the risk of asthma problems, allergy complications, and even upper respiratory infections.
Along with mold and mildew, sump pumps can protect your home against sewage backups and insect infestations.
The safety of your home can rely on which sump pump you choose. If your home is prone to flooding, the sump pump will require enough horsepower to handle your flood levels. However, too much horsepower can hurt the lifespan of your pump.
It’s vital to know which types of sump pump systems are best for you and your home. Reach out to AP Plumbing to talk to a 24-hour plumber in Rochester, NY.
Submersible pumps are the best option for homes prone to heavy rain and flooding. This type of sump pump has the pump and motor in one unit. The pump sits submerged inside a water basin in your basement. Submersible pumps tend to save space in your basement, clog less, and are less noisy than pedestals.
A pedestal sump pump’s motor and pump sit separately from one another. The motor is placed on a pedestal above the water basin, and a hose connects to the basin and the pump. It’s worth noting that pedestal sump pumps are not as costly as submersible pumps; however, they do have some downsides. While a pedestal pump has all the benefits of sump pumps, they tend to be much louder and less powerful than submersible pumps.
In water-powered backups, increased water pressure removes the water from your basin. This type of system doesn’t have to be monitored and doesn’t require you to replace batteries.
Note: In New York state, a testable backflow device is required in most cities and towns.
Battery backups are great during power outages in a storm. A battery-operated backup with a float switch lets your sump pump function normally even when you don’t have power. These backups can be a great preventative measure since a power outage in your home means that your sump pump stops working, too.
If your home is prone to flooding or if you want to prevent water damage, the benefits of sump pumps can make all the difference. Call the plumbers at AP Plumbing for all your sump plumbing needs in Rochester, NY.
