Telltale Signs You Should Install a Sump Pump in Your Basement
A properly working sump pump is crucial for preventing wet basements, flooding damage, and costly repairs for your home in the Greater Binghamton area. If you've lived in Endicott or surrounding cities, towns, and villages, you'll remember the heavy rains that flooded many basements across the region in the past few decades. Even if you haven't lived in the area for long, you may be wondering when is it time to install or replace your existing basement sump pump? Here are the top signs to know it's necessary to add or upgrade your home's sump pump system.
1. Standing Water After Heavy Rains
Finding pools of standing water in your basement after heavy storms or snow melting is one of the clearest giveaways that your current pump isn't keeping up. Stormwater runoff can seep into basements through cracks and openings. A sump pump is designed to collect this water and pump it away from your home's foundation.
"If your basement takes on water after hard rains and the water remains for more than a day, it likely means your sump pump has failed or you need to install one," says Kevin Sheldon, owner of Action Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning. "Sump pumps should activate when water levels rise and pump out all standing water, leaving your basement dry again shortly after the storms pass."
If water lingers longer than 48 hours, then your sump pump can't handle the volume of groundwater entering. Without a properly working pump to whisk water away, flooding, mold growth, and structural issues can quickly occur.
2. Musty Smells from Excess Moisture
That dank, musty odor wafting from your basement is a clear sign excess moisture is present and needs to be mitigated. This enables mold spores floating in the air to germinate and spread across damp drywall, wood, and other materials.
Too much moisture can linger if your existing sump pump isn't evacuating water efficiently out of your home. Or the musty smell may indicate you need to add a sump pump to combat moisture. Along with foul odors, excess humidity causes other problems too:
- Peeling paint and warped wooden materials
- Rusting pipes, appliances, and metal fixtures
- Condensation buildup promoting mold growth
Installing a properly sized sump pump provides the right airflow and moisture evacuation to keep basements fresh smelling. Our team of professional plumbers can assess your basement and properly size the perfect sump pump for your home.
3. Cracks in Foundation and Walls
Does your basement have spider web-like cracks along the foundation, support columns, or walls? Hydrostatic pressure from water pushing against the exterior can cause cracks which can result in major foundational issues in your home. And water trickling through existing cracks or openings makes the problem worse.
Without a sump pump to relieve this pressure and control moisture, cracks expand over time. Moisture seeping through concrete cracks also enables mold taking hold underneath the slab and behind walls. Even small cracks signal a moisture problem a sump pump can quickly resolve.
4. High Humidity Readings
Using a hygrometer to track humidity levels is an easy way to detect excess moisture problems. Storm runoff, high groundwater tables, or condensation results in elevated humidity. If your basement humidity readings consistently top 50-60%, excess dampness is present. Prolonged humidity over 60% also accelerates mold growth.
"Basement humidity levels should ideally be kept under 50 percent," says Mike Holmes, professional contractor, builder, and TV expert. "If you have high humidity above 60 percent indicated on your hygrometer, insufficient drainage and moisture evacuation is occurring. Installing a sump pump provides the airflow and drainage required to lower humidity."
5. Flooding After Heavy Rains
Storm flooding that results in inches of water rapidly filling your basement necessitates immediate sump pump installation. If floodwater contains sewage or contaminants drawn in from outside, serious health dangers follow. Flooding over as little as one inch covering the floor indicates major drainage issues a properly sized sump system can prevent from reoccurring.
According to https://www.ready.gov, between 2006 and 2010, the average flood claim was nearly $34,000. With professional sump pump installation costing a mere fraction of that, it is a no-brainer to have a sump pump installed in your home.
When It's Time For a Sump Pump Upgrade
Notice the signs it's time to upgrade your aging or improperly working sump pump:
- Musty, damp smells returning
- Condensation on walls and windows
- Standing water resurfacing after storms
- Visible moisture damage in the basement
- Humidity levels fail to decrease
- Existing pump struggles to evacuate water
Don't resign yourself to a flooding, moldy basement. Have a professional diagnose drainage issues or install a reliable sump pump system. Installing an interior French drain connected to a sump catch basin also boosts water capture and removal.
Bonus: Additional Ways to Prevent Water From Entering Your Basement
Other home improvements help reduce moisture and the risk of flooding with or without a pump:
- Waterproof basement walls and use sealants to patch cracks
- Installing curtain drainage along the exterior foundation
- Replacing rusting window wells
- Grading soil for positive drainage slope away from the home
- Extending downspouts 6-10 feet away from the home
But for adequate protection from flooding, a sump pump system with backup power is essential.
Choosing the Best Sump Pump Installer Near You
Meet with the professionals at Action Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning and we'll help you pick the right sump pump for your home's size and flooding risks. Key decision factors:
- Pedestal or submersible pump
- Powerful 1/3 horsepower motor or higher
- Battery or water-powered backup
- Dual pump system for redundance
- Connecting the pump to a backup generator
Proper installation is also critical, so don't cut corners to save on cost. Investing in the right sump pump system the first time pays off through protection from catastrophic flooding and water damage as well as gives you peace of mind while you're away from your home.
