Tag: Damage Prevention

Prevent Flood Damage with a Sump Pump

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Prevent Flood Damage with a Sump PumpHeavy rains, melting ice, or just a pipe that’s burst after a cold snap can all lead to the same thing:  A flooded basement.  When the lowest point of your home floods, many things suffer.  Carpets and walls are damaged and may need to be replaced.  Timbers can warp after a flood and mold begins to grow and spread.  Water that leaks into the surrounding ground will find its way into your foundation where it eventually leads to a cracked foundation as the ground becomes uneven or the water freezes.  A sump pump is an important tool for keeping your basement from flooding and preventing future problems.

What is a Sump Pump?

New Sump Pump
Brand new sump pump for suctioning collected ground water from a sump pit such as in a basement of a house

A motorized water pump located at the lowest point of your home (typically a basement, cellar, or crawl space).  By placing this pump in the lowest point, water will collect there first.  This submersible pump is activated by heightened water levels caused by flooding.  As soon as the pump is submerged (or the pump’s sensor detects pooling water) it activates and begins pushing water out of your home.

If you’re looking to install a sump pump in your home, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Submersible pumps are easily hidden, since the pump itself rests inside the well. That will make it a little more difficult to maintain in the future, but it does give you a little extra space in your basement.
  • The return flow should be direct away from your home. Older pumps fed directly into city sewers but this practice is no longer ideal (if you have an older sump pump, check with your plumber to see if it leads to the sewer, you may need to update) since it can lead to backed up sewer systems during heavy rainfall.
  • A manual sump pump is usually cheaper, but it won’t activate unless someone turns it on. Sump pumps are a type of emergency flood device, so it’s usually worth it to pay the extra for an automatic pump.

How to Test a Sump Pump

Testing a pump is very simple.  Get a gallon of water (either fill a gallon water bottle or a bucket with about a gallon) and pour it into the pump well in your basement or cellar.  Have someone standing outside where the outflow pipe is to monitor flow there when you do this.

Installed Sump Pump
A sump pump installed in a basement of a home with a water powered backup system.

If your pump is manual, once the well is full turn on the pump and wait until the water is removed.  If the pump is in working order, the water will be removed from the well and the outflow pipe will direct water away from your house (you don’t want it pooling against your home again).  If the pump doesn’t engage, check the breaker circuit to make sure the pump has power.

For automatic pumps, as soon as you pour the water in the pump should engage almost immediately.  If it doesn’t, check the float valve or pressure switch to make sure that there is enough water in the basin to trigger the pump.  If there is, double check the circuit breaker to make sure the pump is receiving power.

If your sump pump isn’t working, get it fixed immediately! Rain storms can be sudden events and getting a maintenance technician to repair your pump mid-storm is a bad idea.  You don’t want to be caught with a flooded basement during a heavy storm.

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Preventing Leaks and Other Water Problems

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Preventing Leaks and Other Water ProblemsWe’ve address how to go about waterproofing your home to prevent external water from damaging systems inside your home.  But external sources are not the only avenue of destruction that water has for devastating that sanctuary.  Your house is filled with pipes and equipment that condenses water, any of which can lead to a disastrous release of water.  Leaks and condensation can buildup and, with limited ventilation inside walls or your attic, that water will evaporate slower, leading to sodden insulation, mold, and structural damage.  So take steps now and learn how to best protect your home from internal water sources.

Know Where Your Shutoffs Are

Make sure you know how to access all the water shutoff valves in your home.  The most important of these is, of course, the main water shutoff valve.  For any major leak or burst pipe, the first thing you should do is shut off water to the problem area, so know where your shutoff valve is located.

You should also remember to turn this valve off when you go on vacation.  First, this helps reduce water consumption if there are any drips or leaks.  Second, it will prevent an uncontrolled flood of water if something does go wrong while you’re out.

Maintain Appliances

So many appliances in our homes use water.  The ice machine in your fridge, your instant coffee maker, the washing machine, and the dishwasher are all appliances with direct connections to a water source.  Ignoring basic maintenance for these devices and their connections is a recipe for disaster.  Water storage units like your water heater should be drained and the sediment removed regularly, while water hose connections (such as the one on your washing machine) should be inspected for signs of aging, wear, or seal damage.

Avoid Clogs

Clogged drains can lead to backsplash, overfilled sinks, or burst pipes elsewhere in your plumbing.  Taking care of your plumbing is important and should never be ignored.  That means keeping pipes insulated during the winter and leaving faucets dripping whenever a freeze is scheduled to happen.  But it also means running water down the garbage disposal to make sure it’s clear of food.

Avoid flushing any of the following down your drain, regardless of if that’s a disposal, toilet, or regular sink:

  • Grease and Fats
  • Starchy Food
  • Non-Water-Soluble Items
  • Strong Chemicals
  • Flushable Wet-Wipes
  • Anything other than hygienic paper

Avoid washing extremely dirty clothes in your washing machine.  Rinse them off first to remove dirt.  Doing so will prevent washing machine clogs and sediment buildup.

Repair Problems Immediately

Whether it’s a pipe that’s leaking or an HVAC unit that’s causing condensation to overflow the drip pan, get these problems sorted out quickly.  Call a repairman or plumber to handle the difficult tasks of leak detection and repair.  Remember, the sooner you take care of water source, the less likely it is to develop into something that will require you to call for water damage restoration services.

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