Choosing a Sump Pump

To properly waterproof a wet basement, the sump pump evacuation system is placed into a basin that is installed below the level of the basement floor, with the lid level and flush with the floor itself. Water draining from the drainage system, as well as water building up from under the floor enters the basin through a series of drainage holes. At a predetermined level, the pump automatically turns on and pumps the water through a discharge line to an exit point on the exterior of the home and away from the basement foundation.

IMPORTANT: NOT ALL SUMP PUMPS ARE THE SAME!

Important Sump Pump Features

Elevated

First, the sump pump must be elevated, or debris from constant water flow could cause the pump to fail.

Heavy Duty

Second, the pump should be made from heavy duty materials, including as much of a fail safe switch as possible. Cheap plastic pumps wear away quickly, and cheap switches fail—right when you need them the most unfortunately!

Backup System

Third, there should be a built in back-up system. What if the electricity failed? More often than not, this would happen during a rainstorm. Without electricity, the pump does not work, and the basement floods! That should also mean that there should at least be some sort of alarm. One that would sound off should the pump fail. At least you would know that it will not be pumping water, or that the back-up system has taken over.

Sealed

Finally, the system should be sealed. As in the photo to the left, unsealed or open slot lids allow moisture in the basin to evaporate out into the basement environment. Also, open basins allow “stuff” to fall in. We have pulled many types of materials out of sump basins that caused the pump to fail before going to completely sealed systems a number of years back.

Check out the Best Cellar Wet Basement Systems Solution: ULTRA VAC Water Evacuation System