How Can I Choose the Best Sump Pump for My Home?

Waterproofing your home is the best way to prevent any flooding issues and keep it dry. A sump pump is the heart of the waterproofing system since it pumps out excess water from your home and directs it away from your property.  

However, not every sump pump will get the job done. If you have a weak pump or one that fails during a heavy rainstorm, your home is susceptible to flooding, which means your belongings could easily get ruined. What is even worse, floods lead to increased moisture levels. This is a huge problem since moisture causes mold growth that can have an impact on the health of your family. High humidity levels also cause rot. 

Increased hydrostatic pressure around your foundation can make your basement walls bow and compromise your home’s structural integrity. If you want to get ahead of this kind of damage, you’ll want to invest in waterproofing measures as soon as possible. Without proper waterproofing solutions in place, you may quickly find yourself dealing with warping door and window frames, fogging windows, water seepage, unpleasant smells, sagging floors, and mentioned bowing walls. 

By installing a quality sump pump, you can avert most of these problems. Water damage can not only make your Springfield, MO home much less comfortable to live in but it can also lower its market value. There are various sump pump systems your home could benefit from. Let’s take a look at them. 

What Are Sump Pumps? 

Before installing a sump pump, a specialist will dig a sump pit. This basin is designed to catch the water that has accumulated underneath your home. A pump placed in the pit will activate when there is enough water in the basin, send it through the discharge line, and drain it away from your home. 

When working together with an interior drainage system, sump pumps can keep your basement dry. As soon as the water comes indoors through the walls, this pump will send it back out, preventing water damage. 

Sump Pump Accessories 

Various sump pumps come with practical accessories. Here are some of them. 

• Alarms: If a sump pump doesn’t turn on when needed, you could end up with a flooded basement without even realizing it. An alarm will alert you that the pump failed to turn on so you know that something’s wrong. 
• Sump liners: With a sump pump liner, your pump will remain in good shape even if it is exposed to high levels of moisture for a long time. 
• Airtight lids: Since the water that comes into your home has an unpleasant smell, you can prevent it from spreading through your home with an airtight lid. 

• Sump stands: These fixtures will keep your pump separated from the liner. This way, the debris the liner pulls away from the pump won’t damage the pump in any way. 
• Antifreeze lines: When temperatures drop, pipes start to freeze, which causes the water to back up and damage the pump. With antifreeze lines, excess water will be able to escape the pipes. 

Choosing a Backup Pump 

When you install a sump pump, you will be able to equip it with a backup. A backup pump will ensure that your pump will work even if there is a blackout. There are several different backup pumps available. 

• Generator-powered pumps: Generator-powered sump pumps are just like standard pumps except that they are powered by a generator. Although you will have to purchase a generator, this investment will pay off if the power goes out during a storm. 

• AC-powered pumps: AC backup pumps come with a deep cycle battery and a charger, and they will keep running until the battery dies. Make sure you charge the battery every now and then to ensure that your pump will work. 
• Water-powered pumps: Ironically, these pumps are powered by the energy generated from the flow of the water you want to remove from the basement. When the level of water in the basement reaches a certain level, the pump float lifts and opens a set valve, allowing the water to flow into the pump. When the pump activates, it directs excess water into discharge pipes. 
• Battery-powered pumps: These are the most traditional backup pumps. While you will need to change batteries often, especially after a night of hard work, you won’t need to buy any other accessories. 

Choosing the Best Sump Pump System 

When choosing the best sump pump system for your home, you need to take several things into consideration, including the conditions your pump will work in and the type of work you’ll want it to do. Your pump needs to be able to deal with large amounts of water attempting to enter your home.  

If in doubt, you can always turn to high-quality SafeDri™ Sump Pump Systems that are easily customized to suit any type of foundation. Regardless of whether you have a basement or a crawl space, you can benefit from this pump system. It will ensure that your home is protected against water damage at all times. 

If you are not sure which accessories will benefit your home or what kind of sump pump you should get, contact professionals in your area and ask them for advice. At Foundation Recovery Systems, we offer a free inspection and quote. Schedule a meeting with one of our professionals, and they will inspect your foundation and provide a free personalized services quote detailing what repairs your space may need. They will also suggest the type of sump pump that will keep the water out of your basement and away from structural supports. 

Leah Leitow

Content Writer

Leah is a Content Writer for Groundworks with nearly ten years of experience working in the foundation repair industry. Her experience ranges from working with homeowners to find the right solution to training inspectors and staff. In her background as a Michigan journalist, she gained invaluable insight into people's lives throughout our state. Leah lives in metro Detroit with her husband and two sons.