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