Rob Herman
Rob Herman is the Healthy Homes reporter and production specialist for NBC25
Read more: Economy, Health, Business, Education, Community, Weather, Consumer, Science, News, Sump Pump, Sump Pump Installation, Water Damage, Flooded Basement, Flooding Damage, Pedestal Pump, Submersible Pump, Sump Crock, Sump Pit, Healthy Home, Goyette Mechanical. Rob Herman, Rain Damage, Melting Snow, Storm Damage, Basement Mold Damage, Home Foundation Damage, Sump Pump Maintenance, Healthy Homes
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Spring is right around the corner and with the upcoming rains and melting snow, flooding could become a problem and for some people, it could mean a flooded basement. One way to keep the water around your basement from getting into your basement is with a sump pump. If your basement is below the water table or if you live in an area where floods are common, your basement could become flooded if too much water is allowed to build up around your foundation. A sump pump takes the water that builds up around the foundation and pumps it away.
How to prevent flood damage in your basement is a lesson many homeowners do not want to learn the hard way. Even a little bit of water in your basement can cause thousands of dollars in damage. If you’ve taken the time to finish your basement, your furniture and carpets can be ruined, not to mention foundation and mold damage. Having a working sump pump in your basement can be a simple and effective way to avoid that headache and cost.
A sump pump works within a sump crock. Basically, a crock is a large hole drilled into the ground, usually in your basement. When water builds up around the foundation of your home, the crock fills up with water. When the water reaches a certain level in the crock, the pumps kicks on and begins to remove the water.
There are two types of sump pumps, submersible and pedestal. A submersible pump sits in the crock, below the water line. A pedestal pump is a two part pump. One part sits below in the crock, which is connected to a stand with a motor attached above the crock. Both pumps work, but they have their advantages and their disadvantages. Since a submersible pump sits below the water, it’s hard to reach and perform maintenance on. A pedestal pump may be easier to reach, but in times of high performance it can heat up easily causing it to quit working. A submersible pump is naturally cooled by the water that surrounds it.
Not using your sump pump during the Fall and Winter months can cause it to quit working and the pump will only do you good if it’s working. This is why it’s important to check your pumps now before the water really begins to flow. Checking to see if your pump works is pretty easy. One way is to fill a bucket up with water, or get your hose and pour water into your crock. When the water reaches a certain level, the pump should start pumping. If it doesn’t, you might have a problem. It’s also important to have a backup power supply for your pump. Sometimes flooding can be caused by serious storms, the same serious storms that cause power outages. If you have an electric pump without a backup power supply and you lose power, your pump will not work when it’s most important. Take this time now to check your pump for any problems, so that you’re not paying for it later on.
If you’re sump pump needs maintenance or if you need a pump installed in your home, contact the professionals at Goyette Mechanical.
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