Although many homeowners are quite aware of the importance of a sump pump – often because they have actually seen one do its thing when disaster strikes – just as many are not sure whether or not their home would actually benefit from the installation of such a utility. Or worse, some home buyers are not sure that a house having a sump pump might not be a warning sign that something may be wrong.
The simple fact is though that there is a fairly easy rule of thumb when it comes to the question of whether or not your home needs a pump; if it has a basement, crawl space or other below grade installation the answer is always almost always yes, even if you live in an area not historically known for flooding. So here’s the big question; should you be talking to someone about sump pumps in Gladstone, MO and their suitability for your home?
The Three Big Advantages of a Sump Pump
Preventing Flood Damage – The primary stated purpose of installing a sump pump is to prevent below grade flooding. And it does not take much for a basement to flood. In many homes just a few inches of sustained rainfall – even if it’s just a long summer rainstorm – can easily result in a basement floor that is covered in a couple of inches of water rather quickly.
And often it is these small, you could clear them with a few hours with a shop vac basement floods that cause the most damage of all in the long run. Even when the water appears to be gone to the naked eye, it isn’t really. Instead, it is busy slowly seeping into little cracks in the floor and at the base of the walls which, over time, compromises the foundation and structure of the home.
A sump pump ensures that none of the water remains and guards against this kind of damage whether a ‘flood’ involves a few inches or a few feet of water.
Preventing Mold and Mildew – A basement that is even slightly damp, which basements prone to ‘small’ flooding always are, is also a breeding ground for mold and mildew. A basement is actually often a little like paradise for such things, as moisture is its lifeblood and the limited light found in many basements only helps it grown and spread even faster.
We all know that mold and mildew is ugly, gross and often rather smelly. If it finds its way onto any possessions stored in your basement they are often damaged for good and if it makes its way into drywall it will ruin that as well. To top it all off mold of any kind can cause all kinds of nagging health problems – everything from basic sniffles and sneezes to horrible headaches and worse – which, when you combine all of these factors, makes you basement a rather nasty place in general.
When a sump pump is in place those little puddles of water and damp patches will simply never form, so mold and mildew will find it far harder to do so either.
Fire Prevention – This one sounds a little crazy, given that a sump pump is designed around fire’s basic opposite, water. However, give it a little thought for a moment. How many electrical appliances are in your basement? Is there a washer and dryer? A water heater? A heating system? Anything that makes use of electricity is at risk of shorting out in the event of even a small flood and any time that happens it’s a big fire risk, even with all of water that might be around.
If you are considering installing a sump pump in Gladstone, MO take a minute to get in touch with a professional and discuss your options. Prevention is always better than cure and the cure for home water damage can be particularly difficult to swallow.
For Inquiries:
Call: 816-436-1000
Email: service@arcticairkc.com