Sump Pump Drainage for Spring

Springtime is when a lot of Iowa homeowners start to see issues with water seepage and flooding. As winter snow melts and the spring thunderstorms move into the area, water can become an issue in many Iowa basements. If these weather conditions cause water to enter your home to enter your home through cracks or seep through the foundation walls, it can lead to major water damage. This is why sump pump drainage is invaluable for Iowa homes in the springtime.

Even though we have not seen as much snow as we have in past years this winter, flooding is still a threat. The forecast for the next few weeks predicts several wet and stormy days. These heavy rains can oversaturate the ground near your home. If this happens, the water cannot soak into the soil and may instead seep through your foundation walls or form puddles around your home. Flash flooding is also a possibility for any Iowa residents living near a river or another such body of water.

No matter what sort of spring water problem you may be dealing with, sump pump drainage systems from WCI Basement Repair can help.

Why is Sump Pump Drainage Important?

Sump pumps are designed to remove water from your home after it has entered. If you fail to remove water, it can cause several issues in your basement. Here are some of the consequences of allowing standing water to remain in your basement

• Water damage to personal belongings
• Rusting metal or wood rot
• Growth of mold and mildew
• Wet, damp, or moldy basement insulation
• Critter or insect infestation

These are just some of the dangers that can come from not having proper sump pump drainage in your home. Implementing a sump pump system will ensure that any excess water that makes its way into the basement is rerouted away from the home.

How Does a Sump Pump Drainage System Work?

Now that you know why sump pump drainage is important, you should understand how it works. A sump pump is a small pump that is installed on the lowest level of your home. A sump pump drainage system consists of the sump pump itself, the sump pit, and any battery back-up sump pumps that you may have. The drainage system in your basement or crawlspace – where the sump pump is installed – will direct any water that enters the home into the sump pit. There is a switch inside the sump pit which triggers the sump pump to turn on when the water in the pit reaches a certain level. Once the sump pump is on, it pumps the water out of the pit and through a pipe into the yard, where it is expelled far enough away from the home that it does not cause further issues.

LEARN MORE: We use only high-quality sump pumps from ECP (Earth Contact Products). Learn more about ECP sump pumps HERE.

Another component of many sump pump drainage systems is the battery back-up sump pump. If your power goes out, your primary sump pump will turn off. That is where a battery back-up sump pump comes in. When the primary sump pump turns off, the back-up sump pump will turn on and continue pumping water out of the home. This is especially important during the springtime, since power outages occur commonly during spring storms. Battery back-up sump pumps can also turn on when water inflow is too much for the primary sump pump to handle.

Preparing a Sump Pump Drainage System for Spring

If you do not have a sump pump, contact WCI Basement Repair. We carry high-capacity sump pumps from ECP to prevent your basement from becoming flooded. Our expert team can install a sump pump quickly to ensure that your home is ready for spring flooding and water issues.

If you do already have a sump pump, there are several different steps that you can take to make sure that your sump pump drainage system is ready for spring:

• Ensure the pump is properly plugged in to a working ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) and that the cord is intact.
• Check that the sump pump is standing upright – if the sump pump falls over due to vibrations during operation, it may not work properly or may jam the float arm, causing it not to be activated.
• Pour a bucket of water into the pit to ensure that the sump pump automatically turns on when the pit is filled and the water reaches the float switch. Watch the pump run to make sure the water is drained. If there are any issues, call the basement waterproofing team at WCI.
• Check the pit for dirt or debris and clean out. Obstructions from debris in the pit can block the drainage channel for the pump and can affect efficiency and the life of the sump pump as well.
• Check the connection of the outlet pipes to prevent leakage.
• Check the drainage outside as well – the sump pump should drain out at least 20 feet away from your home’s foundation.
• Examine the check hole, located in the outlet pipe. This valve is designed to prevent water from flowing back into the sump pit from the outlet pipe. The arrow on the valve should be facing away from the sump pit.
• Consider adding battery back-up sump pump if you do not already have one. This will prevent overflow and ensure your sump pump runs during power outages.

Follow these steps to make sure that your sump pump drainage system is ready for spring. If you see any issues during your check, be sure to contact WCI Basement Repair right away.

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Category: Basement Waterproofing
Tags: battery back up sump pump, sump pits, sump pump drainage, sump pump drainage systems, sump pump systems, sump pumps