Do I Need a Sump Pump & What Do They Do?

When you live in Utah, chances are your home has a basement or a crawlspace. As you probably know, winters can be difficult in this area. When the snow melts, weather related flooding can be a common problem for homeowners. This can also occur when there’s a moisture concern, a leak in your plumbing, or an issue with your drainage. Water can enter your basement and crawlspaces when the natural water table raises to a certain level, which soaks the surrounding soil and leaks into your home. The last thing you want as a homeowner is to deal with flooding and property damage, which is why we’ve put together this article about why you may need a sump pump for your home, and we explain exactly what they do.

What is a Sump Pump?

Before we start telling you why you may need a sump pump, let us explain first what a sump pump is. A sump pump is a small pump that is installed in your sump basin to extract the water that may appear there. Typically, a sump basin is installed in the basement of a home, and it collects water that enters the crawlspace or basement through perimeter drains or the natural ground water. The sump pump sucks up the water and pushes it out of the basement and into storm drains or other safe drainage areas.

Types of Sump Pumps

There are a few different types of sump pumps. The first is a submersible sump pump. It’s a fairly quiet, out of the way pump, and the motor and the pump are contained in one unit that is completely submerged. This type of pump may be quieter and save some space, but it doesn’t last as long as a pedestal pump.



A pedestal sump pump has a pump that is separate from the motor. The pump is located in the basin, but the motor is not. The motor sits on a pedestal above the basin. These types of pumps are easier to access and maintain, but they can be in the way if your basement or crawlspace is small. Some sump pumps have battery backup, and others have a water backup. If there’s a chance the power may go out during your flood, having a battery or water powered backup unit is the perfect option.

Do I Need a Sump Pump?

If you’re asking yourself, “Do I need a sump pump?”, you should first ask yourself a couple of questions. This will help you determine if it’s best to have a sump pump installed in your home. And remember, even if there’s never been a water or moisture issue in your home, sump pump installation provides peace in knowing you have the pump installed before flooding ever occurs.

1. Does my home have a basement or crawlspace? If the answer is yes, we suggest installing a sump pump in your home.
2. Is the soil surrounding my home dense or made of heavy clay? If it is, and moisture collects around your foundation, water will drain slower and stay around your foundation rather than seeping into the surrounding soil quickly. A sump pump will help you drain the water away from your home more quickly.
3. Does the ground slope away or toward my home? If it slopes towards your home, the slope will send water towards your foundation rather than away from it. A sump pump will protect you against flooding or damage.
   

How Long do Sump Pumps Last?

When you have a sump pump professionally installed in your home, it can be expected to have a lifespan between 7 to 10 years. The life of your pump will depend on the amount of time it’s in operation. If your sump pump needs to run frequently, or for long periods of time, this will result in more wear and tear that may cause the system to fail earlier. It’s important to pay attention to how often your sump pump is pumping water.

How Do You Maintain a Sump Pump?

To keep your sump pump functioning correctly, we suggest performing regular maintenance on the pump. This will help maximize the life of your sump pump. Before doing any work on your sump pump, disconnect the power. Clean the pump screen or inlet opening every month if your sump pump is active often. Every three months you should remove any debris that has collected in the basin. Test your sump pump by dumping enough water into the basin so that the float switch is activated and starts the pump.

Can My Local Plumber Install a Sump Pump for Me?

Yes! The licensed technicians at 1st American Plumbing, Heating & Air can install a basin and a sump pump for you. They will also install discharge piping from the basement level, window well, or exterior stairwell. Your technician will help determine where your pump should drain. When possible, our goal is to have the water exit the discharge line at least 20 feet from your home or into a storm water drain or receptacle.

The trusted plumbers know the codes for Salt Lake City, Riverton, South Jordan, Draper, Herriman, Lehi, and other cities in Salt Lake and Utah counties. The work we provide will meet the code for your city.

If you have more questions, or need an honest plumber to install your sump pump in Utah, call us at (801) 477-5818 now.