Have you discovered that Spring rains are more prevalent than in the past? More rain often means more flood damage when you are not prepared. Do not let heavy rainfall destroy your basement, spoil your vacation getaway and set you back thousands of dollars in repair expenses. We’ll show you how changing your sump pump system can help you save money and keep you from suffering headaches.

Your first type of defense against water damage is a well-designed sump pump system. That system involves four main parts: the sump pump, the back-up pump, the check valve and the sump pit. If you are thinking about whether you have – or even want – every one of these parts, continue reading.

There are basically two sorts of basements: Those that are wet, and the ones that will be collect water. The question isn’t “if” you are going to have water in your basement, but “when.”

Sump Pump

When the rain water level gets to a certain level in the sump pit, your sump pump springs into action, and pumps the water from your home, thereby keeping everything dry!

But since a sump pump is merely a mechanical device, it can breakdown if not properly preserved or if it is near the end of its useful life. The US Department of Housing and Development quotes the average lifespan of your sump pump at about ten years. Maybe it’s time get a new sump pump.

“The US Department of Housing and Development estimates the average life expectancy of a sump pump at ten years.”

Check Valve

Most people overlook an often misunderstood part of sump pump system – the check valve. The check valve only lets accumulated water in the drain tube to travel in only one direction. It keeps this water that’s being pumped out of your basement from flowing back in during that same drain tube.

An old, grubby, obstructed or exhausted check valve can fail and cause or 100s in harm. Just install a new check valve or just replace it.

Sump Pump Backup

Frequently, whenever your sump pump needs to be operating is during heavy downpours. Often that rainfall is combined with other weather-related issues, specifically thunder and lightning and wind. Lightning and blowing wind can halt electricity so when that electricity is operating your sump pump, well, you can easily figure out what happens. Quick Flooding! AND COSTLY Losses!

Is there a way to avoid this? Be sure to have an emergency backup pump. But electric battery backup pumps often are unsuccessful because the electric batteries are lifeless from being old or because the electricity has been out for such a long time the batteries failed.

The very best kind of backup sump pump is water-powered. When you have a reliable water source this kind of sump pump should be able to keep your home from flooding.

Don’t DEFER the Inevitable

Finally, know this fact. There is no such thing as a basement that wont get water collected in it! Even in the best -made basements, water will in through the smallest amount of seepage, but EVERY basement will get wet at some point.

Don’t spend your money and time trying to put off the unavoidable. Arrange your basement contents so that whenever the water will come in, it’ll do only a modest amount of damage. Don’t put whatever you don’t want getting water-damaged in your basement. After you store stuff, place it up on cabinets. DON’T leave your valuable things on to the floor.

We’ve been flooded (no pun meant) with calls from lots of people looking for advice on how to avoid their wet basement problems.

The answer is an excellent sump pump system. You should have a clean sump pit, a new or at least well-maintained sump pump, a water-powered backup pump, and a new or clean check valve.