5 Signs You Should Get a Sump Pump for Your Home

Every year, on average, 24% of homeowner insurance claims are because of water-related damage.

One of the best ways to protect your family and home from costly water-related damage is to get a sump pump. If you’re undecided about whether or not you need one, here are some signs you should be on the lookout for.

What Is A Sump Pump?

To start off with, you might be wondering, what is a sump pump?

A basement sump pump is a pump that is installed in your basement that removes water that accumulates in a basin around the pump. When the water reaches a certain height, the sump pump removes it on its own, without needing to be turned on.

Signs You Need a Sump Pump

Now that we know what a sump pump does, let’s take a look at the signs that you need a sump pump in your basement.

Remember, water damage can occur from very little moisture and it is expensive to repair. Here are 5 signs that you should get a sump pump for your home.

1. Your Basement Has Flooded

If your basement has flooded in the past, you should definitely invest in a sump pump.

Sump pump installation is quick and easy, and may totally prevent flooding from returning. Even if you require more waterproofing, the sump pump will form a vital part of protecting your home from water and mold damage.

It may seem obvious, but the reality is water damage can occur from other sources as well.

The sump pump simply acts as a catch-all, no matter where the water has come from or why the sump pump will remove it. This also helps to keep the overall moisture level down in your basement.

2. You Live in a Low Lying Area

You don’t need to wait for water damage or flooding to know that you’re going to need to look into sump pumps.

If your home sits lower than those around it or is on a downward slope, or near a river, you should consider looking into getting a pump installed. Water is far more likely to be a threat in a low-lying area.

The reason for this is that when water accumulates it will always flow to the lowest point. When the water reaches the lowest point, it will pool up. Unless you have substantial waterproofing, you can expect that this water has to go somewhere and that somewhere will be in your basement.

3. You Live in an Area With High Precipitation

If you live in an area where frequent, strong rainstorms are common at any point during the year, you need a pump.

This can even be true if you live in an area that is dry for most of the year and gets sudden, torrential rain during other parts of the year. It is this sudden increase in water that can overwhelm your basement and flood it.

This also applies if you live in an area that has heavy winter snowfall.

Once that snowfall begins to melt, the water that was once solid will begin to flow. This sudden appearance and flow of water can be a big problem for your foundation and basement, so keep it dry with a sump pump.

4. You Have or Want to Finish Your Basement

If you have a finished basement, you know how convenient and nice it is to have more living space inside your home. However, the damage that water can cause increases when you have carpet, furniture, and other appliances vulnerable. Don’t risk your valuable possessions being ruined.

If you want to finish a basement, you’ll want to get it waterproofed first.

You can also have the pump installed before you finish the area, that way it will fit in with how you envision the basement should look. Consider the cost of having a sump pump installed simply part of the price of finishing the basement.

5. Your Current Pump Is Old

What if you already have a pump installed in your basement?

Well, if the pump is over ten years old, you should consider replacing it. Sump pumps, like any appliance, only last for a certain length of time, and the older they are the more chance they will fail and not protect your home.

You can also be aware of other signs that you need to replace the pump.

If the sump pump in your basement is making strange sounds or doesn’t turn on regularly, this could be a sign it is finished. If you notice any of these signs, you should at least have your pump checked so that you can rest assured it is working.

If you do replace your old pump, consider getting a modern model with a pump battery backup. This can help make sure that even in the most extreme weather conditions your sump pump will continue to work even if the power goes out.

Sump Pumps and You

Having a sump pump does more than protect your home and family. It will also give you peace of mind and helps take away the fear of something happening in your basement when you aren’t around. It can even help keep those sneaky leaks from becoming a big problem.

As with everything, the newer and larger your pump is, the better job it can do. However, it is important to get a pump that fits your home and needs. This is why it is a good idea to speak to a professional who has experience at installing pumps and call help to navigate you through the buying process

If you have any questions and live in the Twin Cities or their surrounding areas, we’d love to talk to you. Contact Plumb Right and get your basement water issues handled. We can do more for you than install a sump pump, so check out our services, whatever you need we are ready to do.