There is no denying the fact that the sump pumps are masters at keeping your house basements dry and sanitary. They collect the water inside a sump basin until it reaches a particular point at which a float switch is activated that induces a direct current through the sump pump motor thus activating the pump.
Water is pumped into the drainage pipes in large quantities and shuts down when the water level in the sump basin falls below a certain limit. Now, the thing is, a sump pump requires heavy investment and constant maintenance which proves a large turn-off.
So, people usually find themselves looking for sump pump alternatives. You must be too, otherwise, why would you be here anyway? But don’t worry because here I am, as always, to collect all the information related to this query, straighten it out, and endorse it to you.
The alternatives mentioned below are personally tested not just by me but also by people I highly trust. Now, without wasting any more of your time, let’s get started!
Is there any alternative present to using a sump pump?
Yes, there are numerous alternatives you can opt for instead of using a sump pump. For instance, you can use a portable utility pump, install gutters, enhance the architecture of your house by grading the ground, install french grains, or waterproof the walls of the basement. All of these options have pros and cons and it all depends upon you which one you like the best.
5 Best Sump Pump Alternatives
1. French Drains
French drains are the most common and famous alternative to a sump pump. A french drain, unlike a sump pump that pumps the water when it reaches a certain limit, drains the water from the foundations passively. These drains are installed under the foundations of the building at the time of construction. They collect water with the passage of time and drain the water away from the house.
The best thing about french drains is that they do not require an electrical connection, unlike a sump pump. Have a close look between french drains and sump pumps.
However, like any other thing, french drains also have certain drawbacks to them. For instance, they require a large amount of initial investment i.e., a minimum of twenty-five thousand dollars to install french drains.
Besides, they have a very low flow rate, which means that although they will drain water away from the house but not fast enough to avoid flooding your house basements in areas prone to a higher percentage of rainfall. It means that in such areas you will have to install a portable sump pump as well to quicken the drainage process.
2. Waterproofing The Walls
Another alternative to a sump pump is waterproofing. You can still avoid installing a sump pump if you are able to seal the cracks through which water seeps into your basements.
In my opinion, this is not a very effective way to keep your basements from damaging because even if you are successful at keeping the water out of your basement, water will still accumulate in the foundations of your house thus weakening the entire structure of the building within months. However, there is no denying the fact that people still use this alternative because it is much cheaper.
3. Install And Improve Gutters
You can avoid the use of sump pumps by installing and improving the housing gutters as well. It is also a very commonly used alternative, especially in developing countries. These are installed at the time of construction of the house and must be maintained throughout their lives to prevent overflowing.
These use the phenomenon of gravity to allow the water to pass to the gutters. However, these gutters are not very efficient at keeping the water out of your house basements, which means that at times of heavy rainfall, gutters are least likely to keep your basements dry.
4. Grading The Ground
Grading the ground is more about the architecture of the house as it literally means sloping the ground. It includes adding a slight tilt to the ground of the entire structure of the house so that it automatically drains the water down the slope, into the drains, and away from the house.
It is one of the most effective alternatives to using a sump pump because if the water is tilted away from the house, it will not accumulate in the basements thus eliminating the need for a sump pump. However, in the areas prone to heavy rainfall, this alternative might turn ineffective.
5. Portable Utility Pumps
Portable utility pumps are similar to sump pumps but without a dedicated sump basin. These are less costly than a regular sump pump and more effective than the rest of the alternatives mentioned above. A utility pump is most suitable for areas that experience only occasional flooding and hence are not very powerful. But still, they do a great job at keeping your basements dry during heavy rainfall. Check out the difference between utility pump and sump pumps.
Final Thoughts about Sump Pump Alternatives
So, these were all the alternatives to a sump pump, which you can use to get the rain/flood water away from your houses. You can pick the one that seems most suitable for you and install it in your house.
However, the main thing is to consider your needs and your budget limits very carefully before settling for an alternative. But still, if you want my opinion, then I would recommend you to go for the last alternative mentioned in this article, i.e., portable utility pumps. The reason being, they are far more efficient and reliable than the rest of the lot.
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.