A do-it-yourself sump pump is a much more difficult and potentially costly job than it may seem on the surface.  Before you install one, be sure to look over the pros and cons.  This article covers many of the issues and challenges faces when installing your own sump pump.

So you want to install a sump pump yourself? Fantastic! You’ll be
saving a lot of money! At least, for the first month or two! But before
you decide to take this route, consider the chore you’re about to take
on.Selecting the Best Sump PumpBefore
you install your sump pump, you’ll need to decide if you want a cast
iron sump pump or a plastic one. Balance out whether or not the money
saved on a plastic pump is worth the risk of a flooded basement. A
variety of sump pumps are available, and whether you decide on a
submersible, water-powered, floor sucker, or stand/pedastal sump pump
for your basement and which brand name you choose will decide whether
or not your basement may flood in the future.Sump Pump OptionsNo
sump pump is an island. There are numerous options that can make or
break the sump pump installation. The size of the sump pump must fit
the job- a pump that’s too large or too small (and is overwhelmed) for
the work is going to fail to keep the basement dry. When sump pumps are
too large, they remove water faster than it fills the sump pit, causing
them to turn on and off repeatedly and shortening their life.
Additionally, your sump pump pit must be large enough for the pump or
it will short cycle, or run continuously, which can also potentially
shorten its life. Other sump pump installation questions include the
following:

  • How will I keep my sump pump from clogging on the bottom of the sump pit?
  • How will I know where the lowest part of the basement is so I can install my pump there?
  • What will I do if my basement has two low spots?
  • How will I know if my sump pump fails?
  • Who do I call for help if my sump pump fails?
  • How will I know if my sump pump isn’t strong enough to keep up with a heavy storm?
  • Sump Pump WoesUnless you find a sump pump product with
    an airtight, soundproof lid, you’re going to have an ugly, exposed,
    potentially dangerous, and loud sump pump pit lurking in your basement
    area. Odors and humidity can freely pass into the home year-round, and
    the entire house will be less comfortable and energy-efficient.

    Beware of sump pump companies that offer warranties that last for
    too many years. They convince you to choose their product by offering
    free replacements if the pump fails. Unfortunately, you won’t know when
    it’s time to cash in on that warranty until the pump fails and the
    basement floods! When it does, you may be paying straight out of your
    pocket to clean it up, as many insurance companies will not cover
    groundwater flooding. Floods are expensive, damaging to your property,
    and the first stage in basement mold problems.

    Your discharge line can also be a problem. Make sure that your sump
    pump isn’t pushing more water into the discharge pipe than it can hold
    and that your discharge pipe doesn’t freeze in the winter, causing the
    sump pump to back up. As a final precaution, you’ll need to be sure
    that you’re not discharging the water straight into the next yard, or
    you’ll have them to deal with angry neighbors as well!

    What will you do if the power goes out? If you plan on using a
    generator to power your sump pump, you’ll need to be there, or the
    basement will flood. Cheap do-it-yourself batteries aren’t the answer
    either- they often run down sitting on the basement floor, and their
    charge is rarely strong enough to pump enough water out to keep the
    basement from flooding.

    Installing a sump pump is back-breaking work! It will take a single
    person many days to install a sump pump and perimeter drain. And if you
    don’t have access to a jackhammer, it’ll be even more work! You’ll have
    cement and dirt to remove from the basement, dust to deal with, and an
    exhausting and sometimes frustrating job on your hands. And if you
    don’t have a jackhammer, how do you plan to break through the floor?

    To make matters worse, many sump pump installations are done
    illegally or against building code ordinances. If you’re planning on a
    do-it-yourself sump pump installation, make sure that you check with
    local building ordinances first. Otherwise, you might find yourself
    facing fines and legal hassles.

    Your Basement Waterproofing AnswersSump
    pump installation is, simply put, a professional job. Pumping a
    basement out is too expensive to take a chance with, and there are too
    many ways a do-it-yourself sump pump installation could go wrong. Find
    a basement waterproofing specialist (not a plumber) who has been in
    business for five years or more to do the job for you. They can offer
    you a sump pump and perimeter drain installation that will keep your
    basement dry all the time with a professionally designed top-quality
    sump pump system. They’ve spent years, sometimes decades, working to
    find the best solution for you, and you can count on them to keep it
    maintained and working properly maintained. Their reputation depends on
    it!

    As the world’s largest basement waterproofing company, no one knows
    sump pumps like us! We’ve carefully researched over 30 different sump
    pump models to find the best one for you, and our warranted and
    patented sump pump systems are designed to effectively handle all the
    challenges that a sump pump installation present. Our free consultation
    comes with a free, full-color 90 page book and a no-obligation written
    estimate! With so much riding on the job being done right , it’s nice to
    know that exploring the options is free!

    About the author

    Jacques Bouchard is a professional writer for
    http://www.basementsystems.com .  Our
    company does basement waterproofing, crawl space encapsulation, sump pump
    installation, dehumidification, and basement finishing.  Our estimates, consultations, and 90-page
    full cover books are free and no-obligation, and all our products come with a
    great reputation and written warranty.

     

    Jacques Bouchard
    Basement Systems
    Total Basement
    Finishing

    60 Silvermine Road
    Seymour, CT 06483
    800-541-0487 x9335

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