The Complete Sump Pump Guide
When you live in Los Angeles, the weather can change very fast. Whereas you were enjoying a sunny day, the next minute could have you experiencing a downpour. Unfortunately, many homeowners experience basement flooding when rain starts falling and won’t stop. Rather than find your basement flooded and needing thousands of dollars in repairs, Boss Plumbing suggests you consider installing a sump pump in your home.
If you’re ready to give your home this added protection, here is our guide to sump pump repair, installation, and replacement.
What is a Sump Pump and How Does it Work?
Most often installed in your home’s basement or crawl space, a sump pump removes excess water from your home. Usually installed in a small sump pit placed at the lowest point of your home, the pump will detect rising water levels and pressure. Once the water fills the sump pit, the pump will start pumping the water outside your home to an area where it can safely drain away from your foundation.
Benefits of a Sump Pump
Eliminates water damage
As heavy rains fall, you could find yourself needing very expensive repairs to your home and its foundation. By pumping the water out of your basement, the sump pump can help keep water damage and repairs to a minimum.
Lower Insurance Premiums
When you have a sump pump in your home, this will help lower your insurance premiums, since your insurer will know your home is less prone to water damage.
Lower Humidity Levels
When you have excess water in your basement, this means increased humidity levels. Unfortunately, this creates the perfect place for mold and mildew to start forming. By pumping out the water that enters your basement, the sump pump will help keep humidity levels low.
Peace of Mind
Finally, your sump pump will give you peace of mind. Instead of worrying that your hardwood floors, furniture, or valuables will be damaged due to a basement drain that is clogged, you’ll know your sump pump is keeping everything dry.
Types of Sump Pumps
- Submersible
When you have a submersible sump pump in your basement, our technicians will install it in the sump pit, which will hold the water that is pumped out of the drainage system and pumped out to another area. Although they can be more expensive to purchase and install, submersible pumps are very effective.
- Pedestal
Rather than be installed in a sump pit, a pedestal sump pump will be directly on the ground and pump water outside or to a drainage system. While less expensive than submersible sump pumps, pedestal sump pumps may be less efficient at ridding your basement of unwanted water.
- Battery Operated
This sump pump plugs into a battery backup unit, which will be useful should your home experience a power outage. A battery-operated sump pump will supplement the primary pump, giving you hours of protection from water damage.
- Water Operated
Also helpful during a power outage, a water-operated sump pump begins operating once water rises above your primary pump’s float. This can be helpful in helping to prevent sewer backups in your home, since it will use water pressure from your home’s incoming water supply lines.
Types of Sump Pump Switches
- Tethered
This switch is best used with pumps placed in a deep sump pit that has a large diameter. Extending pump cycles, it will let the pump’s motor cool off more often.
- Vertical
Good for shallow and narrow sump pits, a vertical pump switch will also kick off the pump more often, ensuring the motor does not burn up and stop working.
- Electronic
Compact and requiring a small sump pit, electronic switches should not be used if your sump pump gets water from your washing machine or basement sink, since water could come into contact with the switch and cause it to stop working.
Cost of Sump Pump Installation
When our Boss Plumbing team installs a sump pump, the cost tends to be between $1,000-$3,000 for the average L.A. homeowner. The price of most sump pump units is between $200-$600. Also, many other factors play a role in your final cost.
Additional Factors Affecting Cost
- Accessibility of drainage system
If your home has an unfinished basement rather than one that is finished, less excavation and finishing will be needed to install your sump pump.
- Types of Plumbing Lines
Should your existing plumbing lines be older or you have a sewer line that needs to be replaced, your installation costs will increase due to the need for new piping.
- Existence of Accessible Drain
Should there be no accessible drain around your home, expect to pay more for installing your sump pump. If you do have a dry well or cistern nearby, we usually recommend pumping excess water into these, rather than enduring the cost of drainage pipe installation.
Sump Pump Repair and Maintenance
If you neglect your sump pump, you may not realize it has a problem until your basement is flooding and your sewer is backing up because of floodwaters. To avoid this, there are certain maintenance tasks you should know about, as well as whether you can do it yourself or need to call a Boss Plumbing plumber for professional sewer backup services.
Common Sump Pump Issues
No Water in the Pump
A typical problem with many L.A. home’s sump pumps, no water in the pump usually indicates it was not properly installed, or that it’s not hooked up properly to a drainage system. If you notice this, you should call a plumber to have your sump pump inspected and repaired.
Clogged Sump Pump
When you have a sump pump in your basement, it should always have a lid over it for protection. If it does not, your sump pump will soon get clogged with dirt and debris. Once this occurs, your pump will either slow down or stop working. If the pump has been exposed for a long period of time, it may be time to get it replaced.
Frozen Discharge Lines
If ice forms in the pump’s discharge lines, it simply won’t work. To prevent this, we typically recommend an IceGuard attachment be installed at the line’s beginning to keep water flowing out as needed.
No Power
If you’re lucky, your sump pump either got unplugged or you had a circuit breaker get tripped in your electrical box. Otherwise, your home probably has lost power, or your sump pump has gone to that great sump pit in the sky.
Running Nonstop
When your sump pump is running 24/7, this can mean the switch is stuck, the check valve is broken or missing, or the sump pump may be too small to meet your home’s needs. In some cases, it can point to a sewer pipe problem that may have been caused by flooding. When this is the case, you need professional plumbers on the scene.
Need More Details? Contact Boss Plumbing!
Well, we think we’ve included practically everything you need to know about sump pumps. However, if you need more details or want to schedule a sump pump installation or repair, contact us here at Boss Plumbing to let our experienced, knowledgeable, and friendly plumbers answer your questions and help you decide exactly what you need for your home.
