Will a sump pump drain a flooded basement? (2023)

Will a sump pump stop a basement from flooding?

Having a functioning sump pump can help you prevent basement flooding, and that is definitely the ideal. However, as with all the best laid plans, sump pumps can malfunction or just fail to keep up with extensive water inflow.

It's perfectly normal for a sump pump pit to always have some water in it. This water can be the result of rain, snowmelt, or seepage from the ground. That being said, when the water rises to a certain level, this should trigger your sump pump's float switch. This will cause the pump to turn on and start working.

Use fans and a dehumidifier

To start drying, use a dehumidifier in the center of your basement. This will be a big help for removing moisture, but you can use large fans if you don't have a dehumidifier. Turn on the air conditioning in your basement — that will help too.

Overworked Sump Pump

Sump pumps safely discharge water that would otherwise flood a home's basement or foundation safely away from the property. Heavy rains can cause your sump pump to work overtime to protect your home against flooding. This increases the risk of the sump pump overheating or getting burned out.

A sump pump should only run when it is needed. This could be a significant amount, and for various reasons. If you live in a very wet climate, then the water table may be higher than your basement floor, which means that the pump could run 2 or 3 times a day for a couple of minutes.

Water in the basement can lead to mold, musty smells, damaged walls and floors, and ruined furniture and belongings. It's necessary to get rid of the water, fix underlying basement water problems, and take steps to keep your basement dry.

A sump pump can help protect your home from moisture intrusion and deter the growth of mold, mildew and fungus. Sump pumps are self-activating electrical pumps that are installed below basements and crawlspace floors. They help to remove rising groundwater before moisture seeps into the house.

Allowing water to remain present in the basement can increase the level of humidity in the entire home, causing unpleasant conditions and making HVAC systems run longer. More importantly, water in the basement can be a catalyst for the growth of mold, which can create serious health problems for the home's residents.

Use no more than 1 cup of bleach per 1 gallon of water when you're cleaning up mold. If you are using stronger, professional strength bleach use less than 1 cup of bleach per gallon of water. ALWAYS protect your mouth, nose, skin, and eyes against both mold and bleach with an N-95 mask, gloves, and goggles.

What are the dangers of mold after flooding?

Symptoms of mold exposure include wheezing, shortness of breath, sore throats, flu-like aches and pains, and fatigue. Mold isn't the only threat from flooding. Bacteria may also be a problem if your house was soaked by sewage. Bacteria can cause dangerous gastrointestinal and skin infections.

If you do not properly dry out your basement within three to four days, mold spores begin to attach to surfaces and grow. While the evidence of black mold or mildew in your basement may be visible, mold can grow invisibly behind walls or baseboards and release spores into the basement air through the smallest cracks.

Once the water-powered sump pump is activated, 1 gallon of city water will flow through the pump and draw out 2 gallons from the sump, discharging a total of 3 gallons outside the home.

Pits beneath the structure collect water. If the water level reaches a certain point the sump pump automatically turns on and pumps the water out of the pit and away from the home's foundation. How often your sump pump runs depends on the amount of moisture you have.

Submersible Pumps

If you're looking to clear excess water or flood water, then you'll need what's called a submersible pump (or sump pump, for short). Submersible pumps are designed to go directly in the water and are hermetically sealed to stop water from entering the inner workings.

The water table's level can change throughout the year, usually due to an increase in rainfall. If you live close to a body or water or have had frequent rain, this could be why your sump pump is running continuously.

Generally, with your sump pump filling after heavy rain, it's because your gutters are clogged or overflowing or your downspouts are not discharging away from the foundation. Or the soil around the house is not sloping away from the outside walls.

As long as you have requested the necessary inspections and disclosures, the presence of a sump pump should not prevent you from buying a home. If the inspection turns up with any water damage, be ready to negotiate. Ask the seller to either make repairs or lower the selling price.

If you have excessive odors coming from the pump, dropping a chlorine tablet in the basin every few months should help get rid of any algae growth causing the smell. Chlorine will also help neutralize any iron ore algae and prevent it from clogging the pump.

If the sump pump continuously operates without water in the pit, it may overheat and die, leaving your basement vulnerable to flooding and extensive water damage. You'll also be saddled with the pump replacement and installation cost.

Can I leave a sump pump run continuously?

Sump pumps should not be running constantly and if they are then it is more than likely that there is a problem. If water starts to enter your basement, then this is when the sump pump kicks into life and starts the process or removing water from the basement.

The grade should slope away from the house on all sides. If that's not possible, surround the exterior of the basement with gravel and rocks as they easily absorb moisture and dry quickly.

If the water is coming up through floor drains or sink drains in the basement, then the problem is often water backing up from the municipal sanitary sewer system. During heavy rains, combined sewer systems can become overwhelmed with water. This can cause sewer water to back up in the system and sometimes into homes.

A standard homeowners insurance policy may cover water damage to your basement, depending on the source. For instance, if a burst pipe was the cause of the damage, your policy may pay to repair damage to your basement. However, if a flood causes damage to your basement, you likely won't be covered.

A moldy, mildew smell can be a clear sign that something is not right. Your sump pump and sump pit are highly susceptible to mold and mildew and should be cleaned regularly. If there is constant growth, your pump may not be removing water correctly. Cleaning will usually remove these unattractive odors.

Complications of a Basement Flooding

Excess moisture in your basement can lead to cracks in your foundation and seriously compromise the structural integrity of your home. It can also cause wood beams and supports to rot. If you're like most people, your HVAC system and water heater are located in your basement.

If your basement has a musty or damp smell, this can be a sign that you have moisture damage, and potentially mold. Visible signs of leaks or water damage along the walls and ceiling are more signs of excess moisture. Ignoring excess moisture or leaks is one of the ways you may be encouraging mold growth in your home.

Plug Gaps. If you see water dribbling into the basement through cracks or gaps around plumbing pipes, you can plug the openings yourself with hydraulic cement or polyurethane caulk for about $10. Plugs work when the problem is simply a hole that water oozes through, either from surface runoff or from wet soil.

Air purifiers help capture mold spores from the air, preventing them from reproducing and spreading throughout your home. While air purifiers won't help treat active mold that's already present on surfaces, they are a great way to control the spread of airborne mold particles.

mildew and mold will develop within 24-48 hours of water exposure. Even worse, it will continue to grow until steps are taken to eliminate the source of moisture, and effectively deal with the mold problem.

Can a mold infested house be saved?

Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold, but don't fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back.

Homeowners insurance doesn't usually cover mold damage or removal unless it's the result of a covered peril. If the mold in your residence was caused by something sudden or accidental, such as a bursting pipe or some other covered incident on your policy, you may be protected.

Mold growth is common after flooding or water damage. Under the right conditions, molds produce spores that spread easily through the air and form new mold growths (colonies). These conditions are moisture, nutrients (nearly anything organic) and a place to grow.

Do Water Leaks Always Result in Mold Growth? Any water leak carries the risk of mold growth, but that doesn't necessarily mean that mold growth is certain. The chance of mold depends on many factors, such as the severity of water damage, how quickly it was cleaned up and dried, and the extent of surfaces affected.

Sump pumps are designed to pump excess water away from the foundation. If the sump pump fails during a torrential downpour, or if you lose power and it shuts off, groundwater can enter the basement through the sump pump and flood the basement.