Sump pumps work best in conjunction with other drainage systems and waterproofing measures, especially those whose function is to collect water and direct it toward the sump pump. The pump itself protects your home by removing water completely.
Collecting and Detecting Water
A sump pump is a unique piece of equipment. Unlike drains, which must be ideally placed to ensure they collect as much water as possible, a sump pump is set in a pit. This below-ground orientation means that water is more likely to gravitate to the pump of its own accord. Of course, larger homes may also have drain systems to collect excess water and direct it to the sump pit.
Once water starts to build up in the sump pit, it will lift the floating switch. This clever mechanism rises with the water level and activates the pump when it reaches a certain point. The use of a floating switch is what ensures your sump pump runs effectively without intervention (and only when needed). Once activated, the pump will remove water from the pit until the floating switch drops into the off position once more.
Removing Water
Unlike drains, sump pumps are active waterproofing measures that require power to work. The benefit of this, of course, is that they can remove large amounts of water from your home quickly. The downside is that anything that deprives the pump of power will prevent it from working at all. When activated, a sump pump works by drawing in water from the sump pit and discharging it outside.
Depending on the age and model of the sump pump, there may also be a series of protective filters in place to prevent debris from entering the pump or discharge line to cause a blockage. The discharge line itself can be surprisingly short, which often causes an issue for homeowners who do not invest in proper perimeter drainage options for their home.
Directing Water Appropriately
Many newer sump pumps have been developed to tackle the issue of perimeter saturation. That is done by having a longer discharge line that is directed into an external drainage system. This prevents soil saturation by directing water toward the more robust street drainage facilities and can protect your home from a range of water-related issues.
If you have an older sump pump with a short discharge line that terminates just outside your home, it is not necessarily better to replace the whole system. If your pump is still in good working order, installing perimeter drains around your property or extending the discharge line might be the most cost-effective solution. This will not only help your sump pump work better but will protect your home during storms as well.