Are you scared of waking up with a flooded basement in your house? If yes, then you should definitely invest in a good quality sump pump. It is the only solution to get rid of the rainwater that makes its way into the small crawl spaces or your basement. A detailed discussion on how a sump pump works in a basement is done in the article. You can also know more about the installation process and duty cycle from the information given below.
How Does A Sump Pump Work In A Basement?
What is a Sump Pump?
As evident by the name, sump pumps are small pumps located in the lowest area of your house near the basement. They use a motor that resembles a fan to evacuate the water out of the sump pit or basin. Pipes are present in the pit/basin that help in transporting the water away from your house. There are high chances of your basement being flooded during heavy rainfall. The water from the rain enters your basement as it is below the ground level. Have a look at the detailed information about sump pumps.
How Does A Sump Pump Works In A Basement?
A sump pump is located under the ground and can be your only savior in case of flooding. They become active when the water level exceeds a certain limit. The motor starts working and pumps the water out through the drainage pipes. These pipes are long and throw the water away so that it does not come back. Please have a look at the difference between sump pump and sewage pump.
Water can easily find its way from under the ground and gets stored in small spaces or basements. This can be very harmful as water can permanently damage the walls of the house. It gets absorbed and causes cracks in the walls too. Stagnant water after floods and heavy rainfalls are the main reasons that the basements get bad smells and fungus. It is best to get sump pumps installed in the basement so you can save yourself from permanently damaging the house.
How To Install A Sump Pump?
A sump pump is placed near the crawl spaces or basement of the house. A hole or pit of almost 3 feet is made from your basement. The pump is fixed into the pit and is connected with a drainage outlet. If you use a pedestal sump pump, it will be placed away from the water. Whereas, if you use a submersible sump pump, it is placed into the water.
The motor can work for 6 to 24 hours depending upon the amount of water stored in the pit. Most pumps are powered by electricity but a battery backup is present too in case of a power outage. Powerful motors can work continuously so you can get rid of all the water in one go. All the water is pumped out and transported to an area that is safe for drainage. Also, have a look at How Long Can a Sump Pump Discharge Pipe Be?
Lifespan Of A Sump Pump
Purchasing a sump pump is a one-time investment that works for almost a decade if maintained properly. You need to check the pump regularly and get it cleaned too. Sometimes the drainage pipes or outlets get blocked because of the dirty water. The alarm system should be checked regularly if you have installed a manual pump. A faulty system will allow the water in and damage the basement without letting you know.
You should call the maintenance company once a year to check the condition of the pump (or follow our guide to maintain the sump pump). They can clean and replace the parts in case of damage after overuse. Although installing a sump pump can be expensive but is worth all the money. It will save you from greater damages caused by the stored water in the basement.
Duty Cycle
Every sump pump will have a different duty cycle depending upon the quality and the motor. A pump with a continuous motor will work non-stop for almost a day or more unless all the water is drained out from the pit. Whereas, the sump pump using the intermittent motor will work only for 18 to 20 hours at the most. You can make it work for more time but this will damage the motor. Overusing the average quality sump pump can reduce the efficiency too.
Who Should Install A Sump Pump In The Basement?
Getting a sump pump in your basement is important if you live in an area where there is heavy rainfall. This increases the chances of flooding and as a result, your basement can get dirty water. If your house is located near the water, you need to use a pump as a precautionary measure to protect the valuables stored in the basement. Sump pump is not important for people who live in a dry place. There is no need to invest in the pump if you hardly get rain in your area as it will be a waste of money.
FAQs
Where does the water come from in a sump pump?
The water can make its way into the basement even if it is present below the ground level. Moreover, it can also come in by the drainage pipes installed underground for carrying the sewage water.
How often does a basement sump pump run?
The basement sump pump can get activated multiple times if you are experiencing heavy rainfalls. Whenever the water limit exceeds a certain point, the motor starts working to throw the water out.
Does toilet water go to the sump pump?
Yes, the toilet water will go into the sump pit which is then transported out through the drainage outlets. All the water from around the house is pumped out with the sump pumps.
Conclusion
All the information on how a sump pump works in a basement is given in the article above for your convenience. You can easily get it installed in your basement for days when there is heavy rain. It can save your basement and crawl spaces from permanent damage. I hope the article was somehow helpful and now you can get a sump pump installed after getting all the details from above.
Adam Wilson is the plumbing products Editor for Mechanics Gear, covering everything related to plumbing. He have 15 years of experience as a plumber and written about plumbing gear for over two years and plans to continue writing for a long while to come. Since he started sharing his plumbing knowledge on Mechanics Gear, he loves nothing more than relaxing in his home and and writing his plumbing experiences. Adam Wilson likes finding new plumbing products and dive into, from manuals, forums and different plumbing groups.