When Do I Need a Sump Pump? and What Is It?

Feb 8, 2023

If you reside in a zone where flooding is expected, getting water out of your basement can be a hassle. However, it doesn’t need to be. The purchase of a sump pump is an excellent option to rid yourself of flooding in areas beneath the ground.

What Works, and What Is the Best Time to Use It?

What is a sump? It’s a submersible machine that removes water accumulation in the sump pit or tank. The sump is a pit beneath the basement’s primary surface. Its goal is to store the water that comes from drains or groundwater that is in the earth. The device usually gets placed on an aquisition pit, an area about two feet in depth and about 18 inches in width inside the basement. The machine will pump the water out when the water starts to fill the room. It eliminates the water by pushing it through pipes that lead away from the basement and to an area where it will not cause any problems. A centrifugal pump plays a role in transporting water to a different locations. When it gets turned on, the sump pump activates an impeller. The impeller spins and pushes water to the edges of the pipe. It creates a low-pressure area in the middle. The spinning motion makes the water flow out of the line. Sump pumps contain a check valve, a one-way valve that stops water from flowing back into the basement to prevent backflow. Sump pumps that get found in residential areas utilize electricity as well as standard household current. It gets recommended to have ground fault circuit interrupters at the outlet, as the pump is always close to water.

Picking the Perfect Sump Pump

If you are experiencing flooding and your house has basements prone to flooding, you will require a sump pump. The question is which kind of sump pump will meet the requirements of your home. There are two kinds of sump pumps available: manual and automated. The automatic sump pumps come equipped with a floating switch, activated when the flood water has reached a certain point. The controller also shuts off the pump after the basement gets completely depleted of water. However, the manual sump pump requires an intervention from a person to begin taking water from the basement. There are some things to consider when choosing the type of sump pump that is the best option for your home.

  • Do I Have the Ability to Use a Sump Pump? – It is great for homes where it is challenging to determine whether water fills the basement because automatic sump pumps come with pressure switches and float switches. Make sure to contact your plumber in the area for information regarding the function of your sump pumps.
  • What Is the Amount of Horsepower/kilowatts That the Property Requires? – Homeowners should know the extent of flooding in their area and the time they want to get water off their property.
  • What Is the Amount of Head Pressure Needed? – Head pressure is the highest so the pump can take the water away. The homeowner should consult with an expert emergency plumber regarding other aspects that require attention regarding head pressure.
  • What’s the Distance Between the Pump’s Outlet and the Wall Socket? – Sump pumps for homes get operated by electricity. The homeowners and emergency plumbers must decide the best place to put the sump pump and where it will connect to the power source. The length of the pump’s cable plays vital in determining the pump’s best location.
  • Do I Require an Alarm or a Backup System? – The choice gets based on the requirements of the homeowner as well as those who live at home. If redundancy and an alarm system are essential,l it is recommended to choose an alarm system paired with a backup plan and an alarm.

Maintaining, Life Expectancy, and Other Essentials Details

Sump pumps require maintenance as well. They typically last for about ten years on average. But, regular maintenance is necessary to extend this longevity. How can homeowners clean the pump on their own? The first step is to possess a large bucket and a garden hose, a tarp or sheet of plastic, tools to scrape debris, and a dry and wet vacuum. After gathering all the required equipment, here are a few suggestions from our experienced plumbers, who are available 24 hours a day:

1: Ensure the pump get not connected to the power source.

2: Cover the pump’s base with plastic sheets. It will save time and effort cleaning dirt off the pumps.

3: Use a garden hose to purify the pump. A hose is an excellent tool for removing dirt and other items from the pump.

4: After making sure there’s no dirt or debris, wash the sump pump with an outdoor hose.

5: Remove from the valve that checks.

6: Utilizing a dry or wet vacuum, take the remaining water out of the pit in the sump.

7: Connect the pump to the power source.

Contacting an experienced plumber to maintain your pump will guarantee longevity and minimize the chance of unnoticed problems arising. It will help in the routine maintenance of the pump and will ensure it receives regularly scheduled maintenance. It gets also recommended to keep records of the dates you cleaned the pump.

Sump Pump Installation

If you have a plumbing problem, we at Ottawa Plumbing Service are there to assist. Our team consists of highly qualified emergency plumbers. They all have the expertise and experience to know if the property requires a sump pump and, if it does, what type and location is the most appropriate place to put it. To get a professional emergency plumber to help install and maintain your sump pump on your property immediately, call us at (613) 317-1682 or email info@ottawaplumbingservice.com.

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