Sump Pumps & Battery Backups
After a couple days of rain, our residential plumbing company always sees an increase in the number of calls about flooded basements. Usually the homeowner is franticly standing knee-deep in water and wants to know what to do. In most cases, the home has no sump pump or the sump pump has failed. When the soil around the foundation gets wet, as it often does after it rains, water can leak into your basement. Even if your basement is not finished, just an inch or so of water on the basement floor can do extensive damage or cause mold problems. If you are looking for a residential plumbing company in Maryland, Northern Virginia, or Washington DC to repair or replace your existing sump pump, or install a new sump pump in your home, call Magnolia Plumbing today!
So what is a sump pump?
A sump pump is a pump placed in the basement of a home used to pump water from the basement to the outside or drain into the home's drainage system. Sump pumps usually work in conjunction with a sump pit, which is a hole dug in the basement of a house which collects water during a rainstorm. The pump then pumps the water out of that sump pit. Sump pumps are usually electric, but some sump pumps use your home's pressurized water supply for power.
A sump pump is usually necessary either in cases where the home's basement is below the water table level, and or when the home is located in a place where flooding is common. Sometimes sump pumps are also used if the bottom level of a house is below sewer lines.
Sump pump battery backups
It is critical for a sump pump to always be working; otherwise the sump pit can overflow and do serious damage to your home’s foundation. A backup power supply system is needed in case the primary power system for the sump pump fails or is out for a long period of time. Some sump pumps come with built-in backup battery supplies just in case the electricity goes out. Battery backup pumps work during power failures by battery power. The battery must be kept well charged in order to ensure that it always keeps your sump pump protected from a power failure. If you want a residential plumbing company to inspect, replace or repair your sump pump’s battery backup system, call Magnolia Plumbing today!
Protect your sump pump
Like other major household appliances, sump pumps usually need some type of cleaning and general maintenance. For a sump pump, that usually involves cleaning the sump pump out. The pump may get clogged with gravel, dirt, sand, and other debris carried in by the water from the sump pit. Too much debris will clog the sump pump and can make it stop working completely. Make it a habit to check your sump pump every few months. It is also a good idea to test the pump by pouring water in the pit until it causes the pump to start.
Ready to install a new sump pump?
Is your sump pump prepared for the next big rain or snow storm? If you need sump pump inspection, repair, or replacement, or if you are looking for a residential plumbing company to install a new sump pump in your Maryland, Northern Virginia or Washington, DC home, call Magnolia Plumbing today!
