Spring Rains Are Coming

Homeowners first response to waterproofing and drainage in a basement is usually installing a “Sump Pump“. While new home builds are required to have a sump pump, they aren’t required to have other avenues of drainage. Sump Pumps are definitely a good idea, but typically installers rely on gravity and placement of the Sump Pump and sometimes your sump pump needs a little help with drainage if there is nothing to help the water get TO the pump.

A few common issues with Sump Pumps some including proper placement, discharge placement, and an undersized discharge pipe. Having an educated technician to help with your decision is very important.

If you notice spots in your basement that consistently retain water, then you might need a secondary drainage solution. Older style homes were not required to have footing drains installed during construction. If you have an older home this will most likely be something else that needs to be addressed. Having one of our technicians come out to do a free, no-cost, no-obligation estimate to assess the issue and to find a solution that works for your home.

Proper placement requires knowledge of runoff and slope in the area. Your sump pump should be at the lowest point of your basement for proper drainage.

Discharge Placement- are you aware of where your sump pump discharges on the exterior of your home? A common problem is it drops on the outside of the house right by the sump pump. This is not helpful it just comes right back in. It needs to be properly discharged away from your home.

Undersized discharge pipe can create backup problems. Sump pumps typically have a 1-1/4″ or 1-1/2″ outlet – do not use a hose. Use proper drainage pipes, it should be the same size and discharged outside and away from your home.

As a safety precaution please get an appropriate lid for you sump pump.