Got sump pumps on the brain? Sump pumps are common features in the basements and crawl spaces of the Northeast, but how can you know if you need one in your home here in South Jersey?
Bovio Rubino Service has been helping homeowners keep their homes comfortable and safe from wet basements or foundation moisture since 1974 — here is what you need to know about when your home will benefit from sump pump installation.
What Does a Sump Pump Do?
A sump pump is your line of defense against excess moisture underneath your home. A sump pump continuously “pumps” water from inside your home back outside, before it causes any further damage to your home. Think of it like a fellow sailor on a dingy with a hole in it, scrambling to dump buckets of water back into the sea while you try and fix the hole in the boat. A sump pump is comprised of two (and sometimes three) parts:
- The Sump Pit/Basin
When flooding or heavy rains hit your area, water will accumulate at the lowest point of your home. A sump basin is dug into the concrete of the basement’s lowest point to consolidate any water accumulation, which can come from inside the home or even from underneath your home’s foundation.
- The Pump
Inside the sump basin is a pump that is automatically triggered when water is detected. This pump forces water back outside, preventing water from accumulating further or causing damage to your home.
- A Backup Battery
When a storm brings heavy rain and winds, water is not the only concern; power outages are bound to occur as well. A sump pump won’t be much good without a power source, so they often come with waterproof backup batteries to ensure your home stays safe even when a power line is knocked out.
*Some sump pump systems are comprised of a hardwired sump pump, as well as a secondary sump pump that runs on a battery. Bovio Rubino Service can help you choose the right sump pump system for your home.
When a Sump Pump Is Necessary
The three main reasons your home might require a sump pump are if:
- Your basement is underground
- Your basement is below the water table
- Your basement floods from rain or groundwater
Why Is Water Such a Problem?
Of course, when you think about heavy flooding, like during Hurricane Sandy back in 2012, it is easy to understand how moisture can be a problem. But sump pumps are designed to keep even low levels of moisture out of your basement, and out of your home.
Even low levels of moisture can turn into big problems, and because of a building science principal called “the stack effect”, moisture in the basement can easily weasel its way into the rest of your living space. The temperature difference between an unconditioned or semi-conditioned basement and the rest of your home draws the air in the basement up into your living space. If there is moisture in the basement, there will be moisture throughout the rest of the home unless issues like air sealing and insulation are taken care of!
Plus, an increase in humidity can lead to mold growth, which is dangerous to your health — but it can also cause damage to the insulation throughout your home (especially in the basement), as well as the wood and drywall that your home is constructed with.
Thinking About Sump Pumps?
No matter where you are in your sump pump project — like wondering which kind of sump pumps are best, whether or not you can install a sump pump yourself, or even if there are other ways to waterproof your basement through basement sealing, Bovio Rubino Service is here to help. Schedule an appointment with our home heating, cooling, electrical, and plumbing experts today!
Keep your basement dry and your home protected from water damage. Call Bovio Rubino Service or get in touch here.
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