Should All Homes Have a Sump Pump?

In today’s day and age, home features like insulation, egress windows, and French drains are expected. However, though these features have advantages and serve to maintain the home, do sump pumps fall in the same category? 

Are sump pumps as essential as insulation, French drain installations, and ventilation? Let’s look into this. 

What Even Is a Sump Pump?

People often picture a dark, narrow pipe under their basements when they hear about sump pumps. However, sump pumps in basements may be expected. They’re not always in dark, small spaces. 

A sump pump is a tool that can drain excess moisture out of a house and save it from flooding. It is often constructed into a specific pit below the basement’s main surface and functions to collect any extra water coming from the drain before pumping it outside the house.

Because sump pump installations are situated below the basement’s surface level, you might have forgotten about it when you bought your house. To be ready in a flooding disaster, it’s crucial to check whether your property has or needs a sump pump.

How Does One Know if They Need a Sump Pump?

The requirement for a sump pump in your home will mostly rely on where it is. Sump pumps are often a good option if you live in a region with heavy rain, especially in the spring. This will assist in preventing water from getting into your basement. This is very helpful if your house is situated in a low-lying place, such as at the foot of a hill.

Here are several indications that your house could benefit from a sump pump:

• There’s a crawl space in your home.
• You have a finished or an unfinished basement. Sump pumps in basements is the standard, of course. 
• You might have drainage issues in your yard.
• You reside in an area that is under constant threat of floods. 
• You live in an area known to be constantly wet because of rainfall. 

Why Do Homes With Basements and Crawl Spaces Need Sump Pumps?

When water gets into a house, it may harm the foundation, creating fractures and problems everywhere. Pressure will increase as water collects outside the foundation, and eventually, the water may be able to pass through the concrete due to pressure. If this moisture is not removed right once, mold may grow, endangering the health of the home’s occupants and maybe even causing structural damage.

In the same way, as basements do, crawl spaces may also collect water. In the lowest portion of the crawl space, excess water will pool and may seriously harm the area.

Sump pumps in basements transport extra water from the house to a place that won’t endanger it. That could occasionally be a municipal drain. The water might be piped to a pond or even a grassy area in places where this is not permitted so that it won’t harm the house. The outlet should ideally be situated as far from the home’s foundation as possible to avoid the system constantly pumping the same water.

What if Your Sump Pump Is Not Functioning Normally?

If you have a sump pump in your house but still see moisture buildup in your basement, your pump may malfunction. Although these devices can endure for up to ten years, there are several reasons why they can cease working, which might result in flooding and water damage.

Sump pumps cannot run when there is an electrical outage. Sadly, storms that might cause floods frequently have blackouts as a side effect. Many homeowners install a secondary backup sump pump that works on batteries to guarantee that their homes are safeguarded if electricity is unavailable.

Another potential problem is when a sump pump’s horsepower is too high or too low for the sump pit’s capacity. This kind of mismatch may shorten the pump’s lifespan because it may run for an excessively long time.

Other issues that may result in an early sump pump failure include a broken float switch, leaking check valves, and clogged or frozen discharge lines.

Conclusion 

To answer whether all homes should have a sump pump, sump pumps are necessary in most homes to deal with dampness. More than 60% of households, according to the American Society of Home Inspectors, have some moisture level in their basement or crawl space, highlighting the necessity for a sump pump.

In addition, some houses come with an additional sump pump that may act as a backup if the first pump is overworked or breaks down. If adding a second sump pump is not feasible, you can install a water alarm to notify you of failures. 

However, have no fear when Zavza Seal is here. As a contracting company in the market for over 20+ years, we know exactly the ins and outs of your sump pump. So, why not call us if you’re interested in learning more about sump pumps? Call us today and get a free estimate on our services!