Depending on where you live and the terrain of your property, you may be at risk for flooding. When heavy rains fall and the water rises, it’s not at all uncommon for basements to flood. Even a few inches of standing water can create very real damage that’s prohibitively expensive for some homeowners to deal with.
Fortunately, there are some precautions you can take to prevent flooding, even if you live in an area with a high water table or you’re at low elevation. By purchasing and installing a sump pump, you’re protecting the sub-level of your home from very real damages resulting from flooding.
When a sump pit gets full, there’s no outlet for excess water. At this point, it will either overflow into your basement or begin to seep through cracks and fissures in your foundation. A sump pump, however, will force that water out of your home through a pipe that leads into a designated storm drain.
Sump pumps operate with a float system that’s similar to that of a toilet, except for the fact that it works in reverse. Where a toilet float stops the flow of water once a certain level is reached inside of the tank, a float in a sump pump activates when the water level rises and continues operating until the water is removed.
There are a variety of models on the market, which is where a licensed and reliable local plumbing professional comes in. By evaluating your home and it’s flooding risk, your plumber can help you find and install the perfect model to suit your needs. They also require a bit of routine maintenance, and an incorrect initial setup can render your sump pump largely useless. Contact a plumber in your area today to talk about what your home needs in terms of a sump pump, before the spring rains begin and bring with them the risk of flooding.
