When To Use a Sump Pump

October 4, 2023 - People usually find a need to install a sump pump in the lowest part of a basement or crawlspace area of their home. The pump's job is to help keep that area dry and to prevent the low-lying area from flooding. Even though some people install sump pumps in specially constructed sump pits, a lot of people simply dig a hole as a catch basin, line it with gravel and then dig a trench under the house to direct the water to the hole. They place their sump pump in this catch basin and direct the pumped water outside and away from the house with a discharge hose. Depending on the size of your house and the direction of the water flow you may need to position two sump pumps to handle the total water flow coming into your area.

You would need to drill a small hole in the foundation block to place the discharge hose in so that the water can be pumped from the catch basin to a spot a reasonable distance outside away from the house so that it doesn't seep back into the basement or crawl space..

Thousands of dollars of damage can come from a flooded or moist basement. A moist crawl space or basement can also lead to mold and mildew growth which brings with it all its related health and breathing problems. For many years sump pumps have been a common fixture in and around homes, especially for homes in low-lying areas or places where rapid melting of heavy snow can lead to flooded basements or crawl spaces.

It is not necessary that you live in a flood prone area to need a sump pump to keep your crawl space or basement area dry. Heavy rains alone have created problems for many homes this year that are located nowhere near a river.

If you have no alternative power source for your sump pumps then a utility power outage can render your pumps useless. Power outages can come from storms or simply rolling blackouts by your utility provider. There are a few different options to use as backup power for your pumps. A battery backup is one option that people use to keep their pumps running during a utility power outage. These systems use lead acid or lithium batteries to provide the backup power to your sump pumps. They are easy to install and can provide power for your pumps up to several hours. Take note though that they do require regular maintenance to keep the batteries charged and working properly.

A water driven backup system uses water pressure from your home's water supply to power your sump pumps. When the utility power fails then the water driven pump kicks in automatically. These systems are usually very reliable if you do not live in an area with low water pressure.

You can use a portable gasoline or solar generator to power your pumps when you lose utility power and can provide power for extended periods. These two will require periodic maintenance. A solar generator backup system will require solar panels to keep the solar generator charged and providing backup power for your pumps. One advantage to the solar solution is that it generates much less noise and is thereby a quieter solution for you. You may find a rolling utility cart helpful for moving your portable generator around, or to keep it up off the floor where it might get wet, especially while in use.

It is important to keep your sump pumps running when the water starts flowing. If the weather also brings with it power outages then don't forget that you need an alternative power source to keep your sump pumps working.

Battery operated pumps can be used for short power outages however, during long outages it would be best to have a portable generator as a power source for your sump pumps. Rain water keeps flowing whether the utility power does or not. A portable generator will allow you to keep power to your sump pumps in order to keep water out of your basement or crawl space.

Little Giant Sump Pump Discharge Kit on Amazon