| If you've recently learned about the existence of | | | | them to turn on and off. When the water rises in |
| a household appliance referred to as a sump | | | | the sump pit hole, the sump pump float rises as |
| pump, you might be wondering how a sump | | | | well. When that float reaches a certain height, the |
| pump works, and what it's needed for. | | | | sump pump automatically turns on and starts |
| Sump pumps are needed to help protect | | | | pumping the excess water out. |
| basements from flooding. Since the basement of | | | | Sump pumps are usually wired into a house's main |
| a house is below ground, when the soil of the | | | | electrical system, but it's critical for them to have |
| ground gets saturated with rain water, that water | | | | some kind of power backup as well. Many sump |
| can leak into the basement. And leaking in the | | | | pumps use car style batteries as a power backup, |
| basement can cause thousands of dollars in | | | | but if you don't like the idea of having a battery in |
| damage. | | | | your basement, you can sometimes get a sump |
| Sump pumps are needed more in areas which | | | | pump that is run off the water pressure in your |
| have lots of flooding, or when the house is below | | | | home. |
| the water table line. However they're useful as a | | | | Regardless of what type of backup power |
| precaution in any house which has a basement, | | | | system you choose for your sump pump, you |
| since that basement is always at least partially | | | | need to be sure there actually is a backup. Sump |
| underground. | | | | pumps are most needed during storms and |
| A sump pump is a machine which sits in or above | | | | flooding, and these are common times for the |
| a small hole in the basement floor. The hole is | | | | electricity to go out as well. If the electrical power |
| referred to as the sump hole or sump pit, and it's | | | | goes out and the sump pump doesn't have a |
| designed to catch any water that might enter the | | | | backup power source, it will not be able to |
| basement of a home. | | | | prevent flooding in your basement. |
| As water fills up the sump pit hole, the sump | | | | Some people use a five gallon bucket for their |
| pump kicks on and starts pumping it out through | | | | sump pit, and this can actually cause problems in |
| various connected pipes. Sump pumps can drain | | | | the long run because there is not enough room |
| into the house's main water drainage system, or | | | | for the sump pump to work properly. When the |
| drain directly outdoors away from the foundation | | | | sump pit is not large enough, the sump pump's |
| of the home. This keeps the basement itself | | | | float can get stuck into position because the |
| from getting flooded, because the water is | | | | pump is holding it against the side of the pump. |
| actually diverted into the hole and then moved | | | | Making sure your sump pit is at least 18 inches |
| out by the sump pump. | | | | across and 22 inches or more deep can keep this |
| Sump pumps usually have a float which triggers | | | | problem from happening. |