When there is heavy rainfall, many homeowners end up having to deal with water intrusion in their basement. This is especially a problem when the home is located in a low-lying area since water from the surroundings can collect as well. The most common solution to the problem is using a sump pump.
A sump pump will turn on when there is water rising above a certain level. It detects this by using a floater that will move with the rising water. This is why the pump sits in a trench underneath the floor level so that it can activate before the water level rises high enough to enter the basement. The pump then sends the water outside your home. It is important to check on your pump regularly to make sure that it functions properly. If there hasn’t been any rain in a while, it is possible for the floater to get stuck against the wall of the trench, preventing it from moving the next time there is rainfall. You can test that the pump if functioning by pouring some water into the trench and then observing whether or not the pump starts up.
