A sump pump hinders rainwater, ground water, and excess humidity from pooling in your basement or crawl space. It also helps to improve indoor air quality and lower energy costs.
Liberty Home Warranty has 3 plans for Cedar Grove homeowners that have different levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options. Their service fees and coverage caps are fair, too.
Installation Location
Often, sump pumps are installed in the basement or crawl space. They take excess water from a basin and pump it outdoors, keeping the foundation and interior walls dry and preventing mold growth.
When a sump pump is in use, it can make loud rattling noises as it sucks water out of the basin. This is a sign that it’s running too much and needs to be cleaned.
When installing a sump pump, you should choose a spot that’s at least 8 inches (20 centimeters) away from where water, sewer and utility lines enter the house. The pump should also be placed at the lowest point in the basement, and a discharge pipe should run down through a rim joist to outside. A GFCI outlet should be nearby to prevent electrical shock. A battery backup is also an option to keep your sump pump working during a power outage. However, this can cause the pump to run continuously and shorten its lifespan.
Type of Sump Pump
When sump pumps are working they drain water and debris away from the area around your home, keeping basements dry and eliminating excess moisture. This helps to prevent the growth of unhealthy molds, mildews and other unwanted pests in your basement and crawl spaces.
The pump uses a basin or pit in the lowest part of your basement and a motor which activates when the pump needs to work. The two most common types of sump pumps are submersible and pedestal. Submersible sump pumps sit beneath the water line while pedestal pumps are positioned above the basin with a float and suction pipe to detect rising waters. A newer type of sump pump is the battery backup sump pump. These are designed to operate even in the event of a power outage as they run on batteries.
If your home is located in an area prone to flooding, having a sump pump installed is a good idea. These systems channel intrusive water away from the property, helping to prevent costly and time-consuming damage.
Cost of Sump Pump Installation
A sump pump protects your basement or crawl space against water damage by automatically removing excess moisture from the area. It consists of a motor unit with water-level sensors and a drain pipe that can both vent the pumped water outside your property and suck it back into the pump. It works by sensing when the basin or pit is full, triggering centrifugal force to draw in the water and push it up through the venting pipe. Some pumps also come with battery backups to prevent power outages during a storm.
Homeowners can install a sump pump themselves but the best and safest way is to hire a professional. They will inspect your crawl space or basement and determine where the pump should be located. They will need to dig a pit or trench and install the drainage pipes. They will also need to connect the pump to your home’s electrical system or install a battery-powered backup.
Maintenance
With all the rain we get here in Cedar Grove, water entering your basement or crawlspace can cause problems with building material and objects stored in storage. It also creates unhealthy molds and mildews, encourages the growth of rodents and other pests, and increases humidity levels in the home.
A sump pump helps prevent this from happening by removing excess moisture and floodwaters from the lower areas of your property. This system takes the stress off of homeowners by removing the excess water automatically and keeping your basement or crawlspace dry and safe.
Sump pumps are mechanical devices that will wear down over time, but regular maintenance can extend their lifespan. Your sump pump should be inspected at least once a year by a professional to make sure that everything is working properly. Some common issues that may arise include a stuck switch, clogged pump, or discharge pipe that is too small to handle the volume of water that your sump pump removes.
