If you've recently bought a home and discovered that there are water drainage issues in the basement, you might be thinking about installing a sump pump to help moderate the water issue. However, it's not as simple as just putting the sump pump wherever you want. There are a few things that you need to think about before you install the pump. Here's a look at what you need to know.
Know Where The Pipes Are
Before you can choose a location to install your sump pump, you need to have all of your home's plumbing lines clearly marked. The last thing you want to do is dig the hole for the sump pump only to find that you've punctured the main drain line for your home's plumbing or pierced an electrical wire. Have a safe digging company come out and mark the presence of all of the underground utilities and obstacles so that you can take them into account.
Choose The Right Space
Your sump pump needs to be installed at the lowest point of your basement. Check the floor with a level to find the lowest section of floor. This is important because water follows the path of least resistance, so it will automatically flow to that lowest point. When your sump pump is installed there, the water will simply flow into the sump pit.
Create The Right Pit
You might think that all you have to do is dig a hole and put the pump in it. The truth is that it isn't that easy. You'll need to make sure that the sump pit is deep enough to allow water to accumulate without short-cycling the pump.
Additionally, the pit should be properly lined to avoid your sump pump drawing dirt and debris up from the pit floor. Talk with a sump pump installation contractor about lining your sump pit with concrete, PVC, or something similar so that it's safely enclosed and protected from dirt.
Test The Pump
Once you have installed the pump, and at least every couple of months, you should pour water into your sump pit to make sure that the pump will activate and pump the water as it is supposed to. Signs of wear and tear should never be ignored because a sump pump failure could leave you with a flooded basement if something should happen.
Talk with a local sump pump installation contractor today for more information.
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