Sump pumps are absolutely necessary if you live in an area where the water table is high, or if your basement gets flooded with water during heavy rainfall.
A sump pump is equipment that catches excess water and pumps it away from the foundation of your home before it enters your basement. Since most flooding occurs during severe weather conditions, some pumps come with battery backups to ensure that the pump operates during power outages.
Installing a sump pump is not easy. You need to follow certain rules during installation to ensure it is properly installed.
In this article, we will discuss 3 main rules you need to keep in mind while installing a basement backup sump pump.
Here is the list of 3 important rules:
1. Find out what is beneath the surface:
Before you start breaking the concrete floor, try to find out what is under the surface. There is a chance of you hitting the sewer line or the home’s main water supply line.
Look at the floor plan before you start the installation process and see where water lines are in the basement. If you are not able to determine the safest spot, you can call a professional for the job.
2. Choose the right type of sump pump
If you live in an area where the chances of basement flooding are high, you need a backup sump pump. This is a small, one-time investment that protects your basement from flooding and gives you peace of mind.
The best pump to use is the triple guard pump. It comes with a secondary pump that provides additional insurance from the flooding. If your primary pump is overwhelmed, the secondary pump will run simultaneously with your primary pump. If there is a power failure, the third pump that comes with power backup will take over and continue pumping the water.
3. Choose the right location before you install
The ideal location for sump pump installation is the utility room. But, you also need to consider where the pump will discharge the water. If your utility room is next to a hill that slopes towards your house, the water will run back into the basement. Plus, you need to ensure that the water is discharged at least 3 feet away from the hydro panel.
If your utility room is not optimal for the pump, you can build a small enclosure where the sump pump is located.
Also, it is important for you to keep a check on the pump regularly to make sure that the pump is working properly.
A sump pump is an important piece of equipment and provides many benefits if installed properly. So if you are looking to buy and install a new sump pump for your basement, keep the above-mentioned rules in mind before you begin the installation process.