| If you're having problems with leaking, | | | | failures. You might also want to |
| dampness or flooding in your basement, | | | | consider buying a sump pump which has |
| you might want to consider installing a | | | | built in battery backup power, so the |
| sump pump. Many new homes with basements | | | | pump can still work if your main source |
| already have a sump pump installed by | | | | of electricity goes out. |
| the contractor, but older homes don't | | | | And speaking of electricity, sump pumps |
| always have them. | | | | require large amounts of power so it's |
| Installing a sump pump can be done | | | | recommended that you use a dedicated |
| without a contractor or plumber, and it | | | | circuit for them. If you're not |
| tends to cost much less too. Installing | | | | comfortable setting up your own |
| a sump pump on your own tends to average | | | | electrical circuits for the sump pump |
| about $200, along with some personal | | | | though, have a professional electrician |
| time and sweat. | | | | do this part. |
| Sump pumps are designed to pump extra | | | | Once you've chosen the sump pump, you |
| water out of your basement. That water | | | | then need to choose a basin for use as |
| can come in if the basement is below the | | | | the sump pit. Some people go cheap on |
| water table line in your area, if it | | | | this step and simply use a 5 gallon |
| floods, or if you simply get too much | | | | bucket, but this can make your sump pump |
| rain sometimes. Regardless of why | | | | fail to work or cause it to break down |
| they're needed, sump pumps can save | | | | completely because it doesn't have the |
| thousands of dollars in damage caused by | | | | room it needs to operate. So buy a |
| basement flooding. | | | | container for your sump pit which is |
| Installing a sump pump starts with | | | | about 18 inches across or better, and 22 |
| buying the pump. When you buy a sump | | | | inches deep. |
| pump, you'll have several features to | | | | In addition to the above, you'll need to |
| choose from. Sump pumps come with | | | | buy enough PVC pipe to create a disposal |
| plastic housings, thin metal houses, | | | | line which runs outside your home. |
| thicker metal and even cast iron | | | | Once you have all the materials |
| housings. The plastic and thinner metal | | | | together, installing the sump pump is |
| housings are cheapest, but sometimes | | | | fairly easy. First, dig the sump pit. |
| spending a bit more money on your sump | | | | This is the hole where water will |
| pump ensures it will keep your basement | | | | collect. Try to place this at the lowest |
| safe for many years to come. So try to | | | | point of your basement since this is the |
| get the best you can for the money you | | | | area the water will naturally run |
| have. | | | | towards. |
| Sump pumps can be bought with various | | | | Put your sump pit container into the |
| horsepower ratings, or based on how many | | | | hole, making it flush with the |
| gallons of water they pump in an hour. | | | | surrounding floor area, then seal it |
| How large of a sump pump you need | | | | with concrete. While that's drying, |
| doesn't usually depend on your house | | | | prepare your sump pump by putting a bit |
| size. Instead, size selections are made | | | | of teflon tape around the threads of the |
| based on how far under the water table | | | | pipe connector, then hand tighten it. |
| your house is, how much rain and | | | | Place your pump over or inside the sump |
| flooding your area gets, and how good | | | | pit - submersible sump pumps are placed |
| your gutter and lawn grading is. | | | | down inside the pit while upright, or |
| When buying a sump pump, be sure to get | | | | pedestal pumps are placed above the pit |
| the best switch and float system you can | | | | - then run your PVC pipe to a location |
| afford. These are the key factors to the | | | | outside your home, and away from the |
| sump pump working correctly, so skimping | | | | foundation. |
| on them can cause much more expensive | | | | |