Installing Sumps Keeps Homes Dry, Even During the Wettest of Times
When it comes to preventing in-home flooding, sumps are just about the best way to remove water from the home and keep the lower levels dry and free of damage. Those who live in flood prone areas are likely aware that their basements can quickly go from a storage or living space to a flooded mess. This is usually because of two potential problems: a blocked external drainage system which forces water into the home’s foundation, or a cracked and leaking foundation itself which allows water to seep in from the ground which surrounds the basement.
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The process of sump installation can be quite labor intensive and, while many homeowners might originally endeavor to take the project on themselves, it simply is not feasible for the vast majority of them. That’s because installing sump pumps requires breaking into the home’s foundation itself and digging down at least 30 feet below the current foundation of the home. That alone can be quite labor intensive and intimidating for many homeowners.
First and foremost, digging into the home’s foundation can present a variety of obstacles, not the least of which is that homeowners might dig into (and damage) their own sewer and drainage lines. Remember that these things are often placed below the foundation for a variety of reasons. Secondly, homeowners will eventually have to create a path for the water itself to be drained outside the home. Without the right kind of planning and technical know-how, many individuals will find that they simply drain water outside and into an area where it easily comes back into the home. This defeats the purpose of the pump installation process altogether.
Another issue that many less-informed homeowners have to tackle is just which sump pump they should purchase to install in their basement in order to prevent flooding. Some homes require less powerful pumps that don’t need to remove as much water, while others will require a fully-loaded, powerful, water-moving machine. Getting the wrong pump can be a disaster, and a poor investment that ends up costing even more in damaged furniture, belongings, and memories.
Contracting with a skilled plumber can help eliminate these problems and make sure that any pump chosen is right for the size of the flooded area, the type of fooling that occurs (regular versus occasional), and has the right amount of power to keep operating during emergency situations. Furthermore, a skilled contractor will know best where to place the pump (as it relates to water levels) and where to place the drainage system that will remove the water from your home.
And, of course, because they are skilled in plumbing specifically, they’ll be able to install the drainage system with the kind of skill that average homeowners and do-it-yourself home improvement types simply don’t have. This ensures that the system will hold up for the long-term, and is placed for optimal draining of any water which enters the home. It ensues that the integrity of the home’s foundation, as well as its basement, is maintained in the interest of flood prevention.
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When Installing a Sump Pump Makes Sense for Homeowners
There are several instances in which a sump pump is actually the optimal way to prevent flooding of the internal areas of a home.
1. When the gutters are clean: Many times, flooding of the home’s basement can occur if the gutters and drainage systems on the outside of the home are clogged and poorly maintained. Cleaning these drainage systems can actually prevent water from ponding immediately outside the home, reducing the amount of water which is placing pressure on the home’s foundation and significantly reducing the likelihood that any water will enter the basement — ever.
2. When the cracks are sealed — and the water remains: Sump pumps are an optimal solution for basement flooding if the home’s exterior drainage systems are cleaned and the cracks which oftentimes plague the foundations of older homes have been adequate repaired. This indicates that the flooding is a real concern, and likely happens with even a small amount of rain. And, until it is adequate fixed and the water is quickly removed by a sump pump, the foundation will continue to crack, retain water, and present a large number of home maintenance concerns.
3. If you live in a known flood zone: If your home is located in an area that is close to a lake, stream, or river, or is simply known for flooding, you’ll want a sump pump. These areas often have much softer soil and this can make it far easier for water to stress a foundation and ultimately find a way into the home. Furthermore, a sump pump buys homeowners precious time during emergency flooding situations which will allow them to move their belongings to the higher areas of the home and escape worse flood-related damage to their possessions.
3. If you have flood insurance: Many flood insurance companies will require homeowners to have water removal systems — such as a sump pump — in place. These items are necessary in order for the insurance company to know they’ve adequate reduced their risk and protected a home, reducing the cost of repair after a minor or even major flooding incident. Policies are usually offered not he condition that a sump pump is present, or will be installed within the first 30 days of the policy’s initiation.
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7/09/2019
A distressed homeowner contacted us complaining of a leaking sink. He said that the problem had been ongoing, and he had tried to tighten washers in an attempt to fix it.
While the homeowner considered himself a handyman around the house, the technician was dispatched to assess the situation. After checking to ensure the washer seat was clear of debris and that the fixture was tightly mounted to the sink, the technician discussed a full faucet replacement.
The homeowner did not want to lose any more money on excess water bills so he agreed to a replacement. The technician turned off the water supply to the home, unbolted the current faucet from the sink and set it to the side. He removed any remaining caulk before setting the new faucet on top of the base. Before applying new caulk, he made sure that the spray hose would line up in the new faucet. It was a tight fit, and the technician had to tweak the fixture so that the hose would be in sync. He then tightened the nuts to ensure that the new faucet was securely mounted on the sink. After reconnecting the water lines and turning the water on in the home, he tested the unit to make sure the installation was successful.
6/6/2019
A homeowner contacted us with reports of a clogged sewer. Before we sent a technician to her home, she was able to tell us that she had recently purchased her home and that it was a few decades old.
Armed with this information, the technician asked the homeowner if she knew if she had clay tile pipes in her sewer system. She was not certain, but the technician explained that the roots of the trees in her yard may often be drawn to the warmth and moisture in the sewer lines; clay pipes provide a great way for roots to access the water.
After using a camera to view the pipes, the technician verified that the system was, indeed, made of clay and that the roots had been growing into the loose joints and tiny cracks that had developed over time. Fortunately, the damage had only been done in one area of the pipe, under a particularly large tree, so the technician was confident that he could cut through the roots to remove the clog. However, he suggested that the homeowner consider replacing her pipes with newer PVC or concrete pipes to prevent the situation from reoccurring in the future. The homeowner said she would consider it and contact us to schedule a future appointment.
6/5/2019
A client called us to ask us if there was any way to unclog the drain in her garage. The strainer was not completely secured on the drain hole when she had been sweeping the garage early, and she reported that she had accidently swept leaves and grass clippings into the pipe.
The technician was dispatched to her location to assist her and to determine if the drain needed to be cleaned or if the clog was due to a blockage that was beyond repair.
Our technician first removed the strainer from the drain and fed a cable into the drain pipe. He was then able to plug in the power augur near the drain. The technician set it to function in a clockwise motion and turned on the unit before pushing into the drain. Once he located the source of resistance, he repeatedly pulled the cable out and placed it back into the drain until he was able to successfully break up the clog. He ensured the drain was clean by pouring three buckets of hot water into the pipe.
6/29/2019
A business owner called to report that his company was not able to have hot water at his location. He was unsure of the cause, as the hot water had been working the previous day.
The technician met the owner to discuss the possible causes of the hot water malfunctioning. After ruling out leaking pipes, the technician determined that the gas line was either clogged or needed to be repaired.
Our technician used an inline camera to detect the source of the issue and found that both the pilot light needed to be relit and that the gas line required replacement. He explained to the customer that over time, the gas lines can become corroded and worn, thus negatively affecting the ability to provide hot water. While the customer was surprised that the technician needed to install a new gas line, he was relieved that we were able to solve the problem before a serious gas leak occurred.
6/26/2019
A landlord received complaints from multiple tenants in his building that the water pressure was very poor.
Although he attributed the first report as merely a problem with a single faucet in the apartment and had previously called a repairman to inspect the unit, after he received calls from every client, he realized that the whole building needed to be checked.
The technician needed to narrow down the cause of the low water pressure. He first checked the water meter to ensure that it was turned on the whole way and that the repairman had not turned it back. He found that the meter itself was not completely on and mentioned this to the client. The client remembered that he had called a repairman to look at one apartment after he received the first call and realized that the repairman may have forgotten to turn it back on the rest of the way. The client thanked the technician for being thorough and narrowing down the cause of the low water pressure so quickly.
6/22/2019
Our company received a call from a customer who was suffering from defective galvanized pipes throughout his home. He requested that we send a technician to repipe his entire house to ensure that his property and family would be safe from leaking pipes or other subsequent water damage.
In order to completely repipe the home, we needed to bypass the existing distribution system starting at the middle point between the interior and exterior pipes and finishing at different fixtures such as faucets and sinks throughout the house.
As our technician began to work, he noticed that the old pipes had developed many pinhole leaks that were resulting in mold growth in the walls. The technician reassured the homeowner that he did the right thing by calling a plumber because if he had let the problem go much longer, he would have been faced with expensive damages. In addition to replacing the pipes, the technician also repaired the places in the drywall where he had previously accessed the system.
6/2/2019
A frustrated homeowner contacted us with a claim that her dishwasher simply wasn’t getting her dishes clean. With four young children and an always-hungry husband, she was becoming increasingly frustrated with doing dishes three times to get them clean.
The customer had acknowledged that she had tried different soaps and tablets in an effort to clean her dishes, but nothing was working. The technician assessed the unit and determined that the dishwasher may not be receiving the proper amount of water.
To confirm his suspicion, the technician checked the electrical valve in the unit. This water inlet valve should open up to allow hot water into the unit when it is working properly. However, the technician found that the valve had failed, thus resulting in the lack of water to clean the cookware. The valve was old and beyond repair, so our technician was able to remove it and replace it with a new model. The homeowner already had dishes waiting to go, so the technician remained in her home to verify that the cycle would be completed properly.
6/19/2019
We received a call from a client who was experiencing flood-like waters in her basement. She did not know where the water was coming from and was concerned for the protection of her valuables and furniture.
We know how important emergency issues can be so our 24 hour plumber responded within the hour. We surveyed the situation and determined that the excess water was the result of a clogged sewer drain. We asked the customer if she had been experiencing delaying flushes or prolonged refilling times when she used her toilet, and she reported that she had experienced difficulty earlier that day.
We used state-of-the-art equipment and technology to locate the source of the problem. Our technician found that the best method to find the clog was to thread a camera into the drainage system rather than begin digging in areas simply to guess where the issue began. After locating the clog, the technician was able to quickly and efficiently restore the sewer system with minimal damage to the customer’s property. She was happy to know that we took the effort to accurately find the troubled area before we started to rectify the problem.
6/15/2019
We received a call from a client requesting that our technicians install a sump pump in her home. She had been experiencing a leaking basement and had a feeling that the old sump pump was to blame.
We verified that the sump pump did, in fact, need to be replaced. The client was more than willing to allow us to complete the task because she did not want to have any more water leaking into her basement as she was making plans to furnish it.
Our technician determined where the utility, sewer and water lines were and designated a spot away from this area at the lowest point of the basement. The technician dug a whole to the manufacturer’s recommended depth and put the liner into the hole. He then filled the hole with gravel and attached the discharge pipe to the sump pump. He finished the job by caulking to guard against leaking and adjusting the float valve on the sump pump.
6/1/2019
A business owner had contacted us with concerns that his current sprinkler system was not functioning properly. The sprinkler heads would spray water wildly at some times or they would not work at all.
He claimed that the sprinkler heads were not directing water correctly and that they appeared to be clogged. We examined the heads and looked for broken and cracked plastic casing to verify that we needed to replace them. We explained to the customer that over time, the heads can become worn due to constant use, weather elements and careless lawn mowers.
Our technician was able to turn off the water system and dig a three-foot diameter ditch around the sprinkler heads. He removed the sprinkler head from the riser using a wrench. The technician attached a new sprinkler head by screwing it back onto the riser. Before he filled the hole, he turned the water supply on to test the system and set the sprinkler pattern to the customer’s needs.
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