Basement Sump Pump Installation in Chicagoland

The sump pump is critical to basement waterproofing because it is truly the heart of the waterproofing system — it is the most important component in keeping water out of your basement. Most homeowners are unaware of the way that their sump pump operates, but just a little information about your home's sump pump can prevent a great deal of unnecessary problems.

The most common waterproofing solution involves a drainage system. A properly installed and maintained basement drainage system removes water before it has a chance to rise above the level of the basement floor. Water is then diverted to a sump basin recessed in the floor where a sump pump discharges it to a safe location to the exterior.

Sump Pump Installation: Get to Know Your Sump Pump

The first thing you should know about your sump pump is its shape. Depending on design of your sump pump, it can run more or less often and more or less efficiently. In the best case scenario, your sump pump will run less often and allow for greater removal of water when it is turned on, increasing the life of your sump pump system.

Sump Pump Pit/Basin

One of the most important factors in a quality sump pump system is the pit or basin. Your sump pump pit's design greatly influences the effectiveness of the entire sump pump system. The size of your sump pump's basin is also important. A basin that is not wide enough may cause collected water to overflow. 

Some sump basins have perforated holes around the perimeter, others not. Depending on the design of your entire basement waterproofing system, these perforations may or may not be necessary. In some clay soils around your home, perforations may be needed to help remove water from under the slab. In sandy soils, however, these perforations can cause clogging of the sump pump system.

Your sump pump lid should be sealed, airtight, and moisture proof. The lid is a crucial part of your sump pump basin. If you have children and pets around, the sump pit should be covered to prevent falling in. An airtight lid will prevent moisture and soil gases from spreading throughout your entire home. As the main purpose of a sump basin is to remove water from your home, keeping the water securely covered with a lid is extremely important. Transparent sump lids allow you to see into the sump pit to ensure that everything is operating as it should be. Some lids, such as the ones used by Atlas Restoration, will have a gasket seal surrounding the perimeter of the basin, which helps fight against noise and prevents moisture from entering the living space while allowing you to monitor its function.

A quality basin along with a battery backup sump pump can go a long way towards fixing basement water issues.

Check Valve

Built into the sump pump during installation is a check valve, which monitors the water levels in the sump pump pit, opening when water feeds into the pipe, and closing when the pump is shut off. This mechanism prevents overflow into the basement. The backflow of the water column in the discharge pipe can slam conventional check valves closed, producing a disturbing “thump” when the pump shuts off.

A quiet check valve uses a spring-controlled rate of closing to prevent slamming and eliminate the noise. Atlas Restoration uses only silent check valves that are:

  • 1.5" in size
  • Clear, heavy-duty PVC for monitoring valve operation
  • Most effective design for easy repair or pump replacement, including a 1/2 lb. stainless steel spring, and a solvent weld Connection to piping.

High Water Alarms

Water alarms detect leaks before costly water damage occurs. This alarm can detect as little as 1/32 in. of water and produces a loud 110 DB alarm that can be heard throughout the house, making it an effective early warning system. A convenient battery-saver feature only uses energy when the alarm is sounding to offer a long battery life. Atlas Restoration works with only the highest-quality names in sump pump alarm systems, so you can be confident that in the event of an overflow from your sump pump, your belongings, your safety, and your peace of mind will not be compromised.

Battery Back-Up Sump Pump Systems

At Atlas Restoration, we know that energy conservation is as important to our customers as it is to us. This is why we install a battery back-up system, which provides the following:

  • A backup battery charger and case that is positioned on the basement floor to power the backup pump in the event of a power outage or primary sump pump failure.
  • A connecting pipe that leads from the backup pump into to the pit and is positioned next to the primary sump pump.
  • In the event of high water in the sump pit, your sump pump will have a water level float sensor, which will engage the system as well as an alarm to alert the homeowner the system is operating.
  • Water is pumped out of the sump pit through the back-up system's included discharge hose, into the main discharge pipe.

Contact Atlas Restoration of Chicagoland to learn more about our sump pump installation process.

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