A properly operating sump pump may spare you from serious problems. Water damage to structures can cost thousands of dollars to repair. Your basement may comprise up to half of the total area of your home. It would be a shame to waste that. You need the protection of a correctly installed and reliably operational sump pump.
In order to make a well-informed decision, investigate your basement water issues. Consider how water might be getting into your basement. Investigate the drainage system around your home. Make sure the gutters are installed properly and are open and working. Perhaps you are concerned about crisis flooding. Your plumber will know how to advise you. Or you can start at your home improvement store. They should be familiar with issues in your area.
If you have a sump pump already installed, but need to replace it, you may be able to do that yourself. You will need to be careful, as water and electricity are a dangerous combination. Be sure that you can safely unplug or otherwise deactivate the power to the pump before you touch it. If you are reasonably handy, you may be able to detach the pump and replace it yourself. Be sure that you understand how the pump is installed and can replace it in the same way. When you are done, test to check function. Be sure that the switch is clear of debris and is functioning properly.
If you need to install a pump, investigate thoroughly before making it a do it yourself project. There may be code requirements, and there are important functional considerations. You will need to determine the low point for the sump and create proper drainage around the sump.
You may be up to replacing a broken pump with a new one. You may even be ready to do the work of installing a complete sump pump system yourself. But if you are not expert, it is probably a good idea to get your home checked out by a reliable professional plumber. A flooded basement is a serious situation, and a sump pump that works can save the day.
Norwalk/La Mirada, CA 91766 | (562) 219-4085
