Basement and crawl space
Sump Pump Installation in Kingsport
A sump pump collects water at the low point under the house and sends it outside. Call to talk with an independent local waterproofing company about a new pump, a replacement or a battery backup for a basement or crawl space around Kingsport.
Call (423) 555-0114Your call goes to an independent local waterproofing company.
The parts, and what each is for
- Basin set into the floor where water collects first
- Main pump, running on house power
- Float switch that starts the main pump as the water rises
- Second pump mounted a little higher, for when the main pump stops or cannot keep up
- Check valve, so water already pumped cannot run back down
- Battery that drives the second pump during a power cut
- Controller with an alarm for high water or a weak battery
- Discharge pipe through the wall, ending where water runs away from the house
Where the basin goes
Water runs to the low point, so that is where the basin belongs. In a basement it is usually a corner where water shows first. In a crawl space it is wherever the puddle forms. A basin placed for convenience, near an outlet or the door, can sit dry while water stands elsewhere.
Why a battery backup is worth asking about
The storms that fill a basin are the same ones that knock out power. A pump on house current is no use in a power cut. A backup is a second pump on its own battery that takes over when the first one stops, and helps when the first cannot keep up. Ask how long the battery is expected to run the pump and how you will know when it needs replacing.
Where the water goes
The discharge pipe should end on your own lot, at a spot where the water runs away from the house and does not flow onto a neighbor's property, a sidewalk or the street. A pipe that ends at the wall just sends the same water round again. In winter an outlet that can freeze shut needs a second way out.
Local rules on discharge differ. Hawkins County, for example, lists crawl space sump pump discharges among the things that are not treated as illegal discharges under its stormwater rules. Inside Kingsport, ask the installer where the pipe will end and whether the city has any say in it.
Questions to ask the installer
- Is the pump on its own electrical outlet, and is that outlet the right type for a damp space?
- Is there a check valve, and can it be reached for service?
- Does the basin have a sealed lid?
- Is there an alarm, and will I hear it upstairs?
- How do I test the pump myself, and how often?
A pump is one part of a fix
A pump only moves the water that reaches it. In a basement it normally sits at the end of an inside drain. In a crawl space it goes in before encapsulation. If the old pump runs constantly, look outside as well: gutters and grading may be sending it more water than any pump should have to handle.
My pump runs every few minutes. Is that normal?
During and just after heavy rain, it can be. In dry weather it points to a stuck float, a failed check valve, or ground water that is always high around the house.
Can a pump be added to a crawl space?
Yes. The basin is dug in at the low spot and the liner, if there is one, is sealed around the lid.
How do I test it?
Pour a bucket of water slowly into the basin. The float should lift, the pump should start, and the water should go down and stay down.