subject: Emergency Sump Pump Information [print this page] If your home has a lot of difficulty with ground water and flooding, then it may be time to invest in a waterproofing system.
Waterproofing shouldn't be overwhelming, it should be exciting! Your basement can actually be protected against severe water damage. You will be able to go on vacation and enjoy it without fearing a flooded basement.
How Does The Water Come In?
Ground water can easily enter a basement or crawl space through its many joints and weak points. The wall/floor joint-where the floor meets the foundation wall-is a very common place for water to leak in. As the ground becomes saturated, water builds up under the basement floor and around the foundation walls. This puts pressure on the foundation and the water seeps in through joints and cracks, flooding your basement.
There needs to be a way to stop the water from rising all the way to the basement floor. Eureka-- a sump pump system!
Sump Pump Systems
A sump pump system is the perfect way to complete the basement waterproofing process. Here's how it works. A hole is dug in your basement floor. A sump pump is placed into a sump liner and pipe work leads the most convenient way from the pump to disperse the water far away from your home.
Once the water begins to rise toward the basement floor, the sump pump will begin to pump the water out and away from your home-- thus helping to protect your basement from flooding. Ideally, an interior perimeter drainage system would go around the basement and feed into the sump as well.
What if Something Goes Wrong?
Always make sure your sump system comes with an alarm to notify you of any issues. The correct sizing and sump location are also very important. Sump installations by waterproofing professionals will give you access to assistance should anything ever go wrong.
Above all, the best investment is in a battery backup system. You're probably asking yourself, "What happens when the power goes out?" or "What if the sump breaks or the circuit trips?"
When the Power Goes Out
A rain storm can cause the power to fail, and that's precisely when you most need the sump pump. That's why it's a great idea to purchase a battery backup. This way you always have a sump pump no matter what!
If It Breaks or Needs More Power
If for some reason the sump pump fails you will have the alarm to let you know that it's no longer working. The same solution to this is also what provides more power to your system. You also have the battery back up sump pump that can take over for when the sump fails.
If the water volume is too much for your sump, then having a secondary pump in the same liner is the way to go. This is a double threat. If the water becomes too much for the first pump, then the second pump will kick on and provide more power than the first pump. This is because the first pump is plenty sufficient to handle normal pumping and the stronger pump is reserved for secondary use. So, if the first pump can't handle a situation, then that's the perfect time for the heavy duty pump to step in and take over the pumping. If the first pump fails, the second pump will take over, reserving your battery powered back up!
