Prevent Basement Flooding with a Submersible Sump Pump

Prevention, as they say is better then cure, so why not get yourself a submersible sump pump to make sure that a flooded basement is something that never happens to you!

Just imagine all the damage that a flooded basement could do. Even an inch of water can cause thousand of dollars worth of damage - wrecked carpets that have to be thrown away, damaged furniture that will never look the same again, rotten wood, damaged foundations, plumbing problems, not to mention the time and expense it can take to clear up.

Installing a sump pump has become increasingly more important, especially for people with newer houses. The reason for this is that the Federal Clean Water Act does not allow builders in many districts to divert rainwater gathering in gutters to sewerage systems. This means that this water can gather and cause flooding if it is not deposited far enough away from your foundations.

Basement flooding is also a potential and common problem for people with houses on flat ground because the rain or melting snow has no place to go except the soil. This makes the ground saturated, and pressure builds up, forcing the water into cracks in your foundation floors or walls, seeping in and causing flooding in your basement.

Installing a submersible sump pump in your basement is one of the best defenses against flooding you can have. The most common cause of flooding is water building in the soil that works it's way to your basement. A submersible sump pump will pump out the water from the lowest point in your basement to make sure that the water level never reaches the basement floor.

The submersible sump pump will detect the groundwater as it rises and before it reaches the basement floor the water will be pumped through the sump hole - a pipe that leads away from the precious foundation of your basement.

There are two main types of sump pumps on the market:

(1) The pedestal sump pump, which stands upright with a motor higher then the pump that is not meant to get wet. This type of pump has a float switch that is activated when the water reaches the 'critical level' and the water is diverted safely away. Pedestal sump pumps are less expensive then their submersible relatives but are very noisy.

(2) The submersible sump pump is installed in the ground and works underwater. They are also activated by a float switch but they are the better investment as they are a lot quieter, are safer and often have a longer life because their motors are sealed and therefore protected from moisture and dust.

So in conclusion, investing a few hundred dollars in a submersible sump pump may well save you thousands of dollars in damage, help maintain the value of your home and ultimately protect your belongings from flood damage.