Water is great for many things, just not the foundation of your home. A flooded crawl space or basement can lead to many problems. Not only can this create a giant mess, it can also degrade the wood that supports your home.
We’ve discussed how moisture can have a negative effect on your crawl space. This can take many forms — mold growth, rotted wood, poor air quality, and more.
This moisture can come from many different sources. Humidity, for instance, can have a range of negative effects on your crawl space. This is why professionals like Crawlspace Doctor recommend installing a reliable and efficient dehumidifier along with encapsulating the crawl space.
But what happens when a large amount of water makes its way into the crawl space? Heavy rains can soak the ground and saturate the dirt beneath a home. This can lead to water filling the crawl space which is not only detrimental to the essential systems down there, but can also be very difficult to remove.
This is where a great tool called a sump pump comes in.
But what exactly is a sump pump, and how do you know if you need one?
What is a Sump Pump?
A sump pump is a means of removing water that gets into your crawl space. Flooding involves large amounts of standing water that will begin to pool at the lowest area of your basement or crawl space.
A sump pump addresses this issue by targeting this low point in your crawl space. A pit is dug in the lowest section of the crawl space because this is where the water is going to naturally flow.
A pump is placed into this pit to wait for the emergence of any water.
A heavy rain can saturate the ground and cause water to appear in your crawl space. And when this happens, it will flow into the pit. The sump pump jumps into action to pump the standing water out of the pit. It directs this water out of the crawl space, either to a storm drain, detention pond, or anywhere else that won’t allow the water to come back into your crawl space.
Visit Crawlspace Doctor to learn more about how a crawl space sump pump can help you today!
Benefits of a Crawl Space Sump Pump
The atmosphere in your crawl space needs to be controlled to avoid a long list of potential negative effects. A sump pump helps remove water before it can create these potentially harmful effects.
A reduction of the presence of water will save you crawl space from creating the appropriate atmosphere needed to spur mold growth. This mold can compromise the foundation of your home and diminish the air quality not only in your crawl space, but in your home.
Knowing a sump pump is working to maintain a dry crawl space will afford the homeowner peace of mind. You don’t want to be worried about the condition of your crawl space, and this is a great way to know it’s taken care of.
How Do I Know if I Need a Sump Pump?
Every crawl space is going to experience a degree of water intrusion. This is why it’s essential to have a drainage system and other mitigating factors such as a vapor barrier. A sump pump is an integral part of keeping your crawl space dry, no matter what type of weather situation you experience.
So while everybody can benefit from a sump pump, there are other factors that can make it an absolute necessity.
Those who live in areas that experience large amounts of rain or snow are going to see a higher risk of water intrusion in their crawl space.
Areas that are otherwise prone to flooding should also install a crawl space sump pump.
Water in your crawl space is never good. A sump pump is an essential aspect of keeping this area dry.
Call a Professional for Proper Installation
Your crawl space is an ecosystem that has a variety of important effects on the rest of your house. A large percentage of the air you breathe in your home comes directly from your crawl space. So if the air in your crawl space is unhealthy, it will negatively impact the air in the living space as well.
A controlled environment will reduce these negative effects on both the air quality and support structures of your home. Mitigating and removing water intrusion is a major part of this.
Crawlspace Doctor serves a variety of areas in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and Indiana. We know what needs to be done to make sure your crawl space is an asset and not a liability.