Sump Pumps

Sump pumps move water draining around your home's foundation away from your home. During floods, water can overwhelm a home's weeping tile system, forcing water through cracks in the foundation and other small openings. Even if water isn't flooding into your home, high volumes of water can cause damage to your foundation, walls, or floors.

A sump pump collects and pushes water collecting below the foundation away from your home, redirecting it towards proper drainage systems like your yard, ditches, and municipal water systems. They are most useful for homes without a connection to a municipal stormwater management system, homes at or below grade, homes near underground streams or wells, or in cases where flood damage would be significantly expensive (especially if you aren't able to cover damages with insurance. 

A sump pump can be installed during new construction or retrofitted into existing homes to pump water into the municipal stormwater management system. 

Check with your plumber to determine if a sump pump is right for your home.

Power outages happen most often during extreme weather events, the same time your home is most likely to experience flooding. A backup power source for your sump pump will ensure that your home will remain protected from flooding during an emergency power outage. 

You can suffer significant water damage if your sump pump is set up improperly or is damaged. You must maintain your sump pump and get it inspected regularly. 

Sump pumps are prone to blockage and failure if they are not routinely inspected and maintained. You should test your sump at least twice per year. You can do this by opening up the cover and pouring in a bucket of water. Once the float rises, the sump pump should pump the water. 

If your sump pump does not work, it should be serviced by a licensed plumber.