You may have heard your neighbors or friends mention their sump pump in passing after a big storm but never really knew what it was. You may have also heard that this device is what saved your neighbors and friends from having to dip into their savings to repair their water damage.
As severe weather rolls in each year, the risk of flooding increases, whether from thunderstorms, hurricanes or melting snow in the spring. A sump pump can save you time and money and help keep your lower living areas safe and comfortable. Learn more about sump pumps and their benefits below.
What Is a Sump Pump?
A sump pump is a device that removes water that’s accumulated in the lowest area of your home, which usually includes crawl spaces of basements. This device helps pump water through the pipes and drains it out of the house.
Some areas are more prone to flooding than others, such as those that experience heavy annual rainfall, melting snow or hurricanes. A sump pump is an invaluable device for these areas to prevent flooding and the potential for thousands of dollars in water damage that can come with it.
A sump pump is usually on standby, waiting to turn on until needed. When your location experiences flooding, the soil around your home becomes oversaturated. The excess water from the flooding funnels toward a sump pit, the lowest location in your home, filling it with water. As the pit fills with water, it activates the sump pump’s float switch, which allows it to turn on the pump.
The sump pump collects water that has accumulated in the lower levels of your home and drains it to a location away from your foundation, usually 15 feet or more away, so the water can’t come back. The sump pump valve also prevents water from flowing back to the pump, ensuring the water stays out of your home for good once it’s been pumped.
What Are the Benefits of a Sump Pump?
Sump pumps are crucial in flood prevention and are a small investment with significant advantages. Some of the major benefits of sump pumps include the following:
- Reducing the risk of water damage: Water damage can cause significant problems in your home and be expensive to repair. If you live in an area where flooding is common, a sump pump is necessary to keep your home intact and prevent costly repairs, especially if flooding happens yearly.
- Preventing damage to your interior: Flooding can damage your paint, wall coverings, furniture and appliances, which can become costly to repair or replace. Rather than risking damage to your home, a sump pump can keep your interior safe and allow you to live more comfortably.
- Saving your foundation from damage: Flooding can contribute to the cracking and separation of your foundation from your home. Foundation repairs are often invasive and expensive. If your foundation isn’t repaired from water damage, it can cause compounding structural damage that can affect the integrity and value of your home.
- Improving comfort and air quality: A sump pump helps prevent humidity and mold growth caused by water accumulation, which can improve your home’s air quality and comfort. Your basement or lowest level of your home will also be more comfortable year-round, regardless if your area is prone to flooding.
- Ensuring peace of mind: A sump pump can give you peace of mind when experiencing severe weather that can lead to flooding. Rather than thinking of what to do at the moment and stressing over the potential of water damage during a storm, you can rest easy knowing your sump pump has you covered.
- Meeting insurance coverage requirements: Some flood insurance providers require you to have a sump pump to prevent flooding. If you experience flooding without investing in a sump pump, your insurance may not cover the extent of the damage or restoration. However, owning and using a sump pump can help you get coverage if flooding is so severe that your sump pump can’t handle it on its own and you need water damage restoration.
How Do You Know if You Need a Sump Pump?
While a sump pump has many benefits for all homes, some homeowners need a sump pump more than others. If any of the following apply to you, you should consider investing in a sump pump for your home:
- You live in an area with heavy rain or snowfall: Some areas of the country receive more rain or snowfall than others, leaving them at a higher risk for flood damage. Basements and crawl spaces in these locations are more susceptible to flooding. If you live in one of these areas, you should consider investing in a sump pump for your home to prevent costly and invasive damage.
- Your home is on a flood-prone lot: Some homes are more prone to flooding than others, even with minimal rainfall, such as those built on lots with poorly draining soil, houses surrounded by hills and low-lying properties. These homes are also more likely to experience rising groundwater levels during snow, rain or spring runoff events. Sump pumps can help prevent water damage in these cases, which can help you save money and help you rest easier during inclement weather.
- You have a finished basement: Even if your home isn’t considered a high-risk property like the ones above, you may want to consider protecting your basement living space with a sump pump, especially if you keep valuable items there. An unexpected flood can cause significant, irreparable damage to valued items, and you’ll have to spend more to repair the damage than you would on an affordable sump pump.
- You’ve experienced water problems in the past: If you’ve experienced flooding in your basement or crawl space before, or you’ve had challenges with high moisture levels in underground levels of your home, you may want to consider a sump pump installation. These devices can prevent these problems from occurring again and improve the humidity levels in your underground living areas, improving the overall comfort of your home.
Trust Rhode Island Restoration to Repair Water Damage
If you’ve experienced flooding or water damage in your home, the professionals at Rhode Island Restoration can help. Our water damage restoration services can help restore your home to its original condition, helping prevent damage and improving your health. We’ll respond promptly to your call, helping to contain the water and damage in your home so you can save money, your property and your valuables.
Our team of professionals is highly trained in water removal services, allowing them to combat water damage and restore your home to its original state. Our emergency services are also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We can quickly extract the water from your home and dry your property to reduce the risk of extensive damage.
Contact us online today or call us at 401-414-1111 to learn more about how our water damage restoration can help when you experience flooding!
