Growing up in an old and historic row house neighborhood in Philadelphia, I didn’t even know what a sump pump was. Sure, we had rain; but, sump pumps just weren’t a thing back in the day where I grew up.
When I moved out of my family’s home, I ended up working in residential and commercial plumbing for various plumbing companies in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. It was there I began learning about the need for a sump pump.
A sump pump is a unique plumbing fixture. It’s a fixture that most of us will, at one point in time, need – especially if you live in a dwelling that has a basement.
It makes a lot of sense to have a sump pump if you live in an area that has a high-water table and tends to flood after it rains. In this instance, a sump pump can be, not only an asset, but a life saver.
A sump pump works by taking water out of an area and expelling it to the outside away from your home where it can cause significant damage.
If you have a high-water table, are in an area that gets lots of rain, or are in any way concerned about basement flooding, it’s definitely time to install a sump pump. Proper installation is important. If a sump pump is not installed properly, the pump can be overworked to the point where it fails to do its job, meaning, it’s essentially useless, nearly as useless as not having one at all.
It’s important to check to see if your sump pump is properly installed. When doing this, look at things like the float – a piece that is located on the side of your sump pump. Make sure the float is not rubbing against the side of the pit (the well that contains the pump). The float should not be touching anything.
Also, look to see if there is a check valve which will be located above the pump on the discharge line. Once you locate the check valve, make sure to look for the directional arrow that is clearly printed on the check valve. Check that the arrow is pointing away from the pump.
Another tip is to lift the float manually. If the motor kicks on, it’s working.
It’s important for you to know that most – if not all – insurance companies require that a sump pump is installed before they agree to cover water damage.
Throughout my years of plumbing, I’ve come across some professionally and many unprofessionally installed sump pumps/pits. Most of the time, if there is something wrong, it’s going to be found in the construction of the pit. The bottom line is that a sump pump that is improperly installed can be nearly as bad as not having one at all.
So, today, take a look at your sump pump to see that it will work properly when you need it. If you don’t have one, then consider the risk factors and make a determination about whether or not, you need to have one installed.