A sump pump takes water that accumulates in a pit in your basement and ejects it. We install both conventional pumps and ones powered by backup batteries, water or generators that will work even when the power is out.
A clogged discharge line can cause your basement to flood. We can repair or replace your discharge lines.
Water Powered
This type of backup pump works off your municipal water supply to keep your basement dry if the primary sump fails. A 3/4″ line is connected to your home’s municipal water supply and a separate suction pipe runs down into your basement. A screen on the suction pipe prevents large debris from entering your pump and a check valve keeps water from flowing back into the pit.
At the bottom of the suction piping is an ejector nozzle (a carefully balanced hourglass-shaped design). At this constriction, city water pressure drops which literally “sucks” the sump water into the nozzle. The sump and city water are then combined and discharged out of your house via a dedicated discharge line.
This system will only run when your electric sump pump is down and uses only a small amount of municipal water to do so. The cost of this water consumption is a minor price to pay for preventing flood damage and expensive repairs.
Battery Powered
A battery backup pump doesn’t require electricity to operate and can take over automatically when the primary sump pump fails. It does this by connecting to your home’s municipal water system using an automatic valve / ejector jet unit and a float assembly. These systems are wall-mounted, take up no space in the pump pit or crock and require minimal maintenance.
The system functions by utilizing the Venturi effect. City water under pressure is pumped into a constricted area in the nozzle and this reduces pressure creating a vacuum. The vacuum sucks sump water into the nozzle where it mixes with the city water and is discharged.
These types of systems are easy to install in place of the existing sump pump. They are ideal for areas that experience frequent power outages or where there is risk of a storm knocking down power lines. They also offer many features such as a power outage alarm, pump failure alarm and a stuck float switch warning.
Conventional
Conventional sump pumps pump seasonally high ground water from beneath basement floors. They require a below-floor drain tile system and a sump pit. Gray-water pumps lift sewage from plumbing fixtures and are installed in homes with bathroom basements. Sewage lift pumps are self-contained systems that grind and pump solid sewage to the sewer line.
Before you begin, lay rags or towels on your work surface to prevent puddles from forming. Then, use a rotary hammer to drill a hole through the basement wall and into the plastic sump tank, about six inches from the edge of the wall.
Use the hole you drilled as a guide to cut a length of 2-in.-diameter PVC pipe. Thread the PVC pipe into the hole in your basement wall using a coupler and elbow fittings, if needed. Then, use PVC cement to join the piping together.
Installation
Sump pumps are located in a pit that allows water from the foundation or a French drain to enter and eject it out. They help prevent flooding and sewage backups in basements. They also reduce basement humidity and improve indoor air quality in homes. We install conventional pumps and those powered by backup batteries or water pressure.
The type of pump you choose and where it’s installed will influence the cost of the project. A pedestal pump will be cheaper than a submersible model. It’s also possible to add features like battery backups, alarms and water level monitors at an additional cost.
The most significant costs associated with sump pump installation are for supplies/materials and labor. There may be an additional charge for applicable fees and local sales tax as well. Professionals are upfront about these charges as a way to build trust with their customers. Having a working sump pump can save homeowners from costly flood damage.
