What is a Sump Pump?

A sump pump is a submersible pump that sits at the bottom of a sump pit, which is typically installed at the lowest point in your basement or crawl space. Ground water surrounding your home’s foundation is channeled into a perimeter drain system installed at the base of the foundation. Water finds its way into the perforated drainpipes and is quickly diverted to the sump pit. The sump pump, which is triggered by a float switch, removes the water by pumping it to the nearest storm drain, dry well or detention pond. A sump pump turns on only when water inside the sump pit reaches a pre-determined level.

Most new homes are equipped with sump pumps but older homes can be retrofitted with a sump system to prevent basement flooding. Our Total plumbers are experts at sump pump installation and repair.

Sump Pump Installation

Sump pumps can be hard-wired into a home’s electrical system or be plugged into an outlet. Many sump pumps are equipped with a battery backup to ensure that the pump will work when the power is out, such as during a severe storm when it’s especially important that water is pumped away from your home.

If your home experiences a power outage out for an extended period, frequent power outages or if your primary sump pump fails, a battery backup sump pump or one of many water powered backup systems (that use your home’s water supply pressure to remove water from the sump pit) will protect your basement from water damage. A Total plumber can present several backup options.

Sump Pump Maintenance

Test your sump pump regularly to make sure it will operate when the next big downpour occurs. Test it by pouring a bucket of water into the sump pit. The pump should turn on, remove the water from the pit and shut itself off in a matter of seconds. Ensure that the float and the check valve move freely.

To clean your sump pit, remove any dirt, sand, gravel and other debris to increase the pump’s efficiency and prolong its life. Ensure that the discharge line opening is free of obstructions so that water can be pumped through the line and out of your basement or crawlspace. If you don’t want to do this yourself, our team of Roto-Rooter experts is happy to help with your sump pump maintenance.

Sump Pump Replacement and Repair

Like any equipment with moving parts, sump pumps will wear out over time and will need to be replaced. There is no general rule on how often a sump pump should be replaced since it depends on how often the pump operates. If your sump pump is not working, call in the experts at Total Plumbing to assess the situation. We also can help with any basement leak repairs that have occurred due to a broken sump pump.