A sump pump is a pump installed in the crawlspace or basementin Australia. Its job is to keep the area under the building free from flooding. Usually, the pumps are installed in man-made sump pits. The pump pumps water out of the pit and far away from the building to keep the basement dry.
Basement flooding problems
A lot of homeowners face the challenge of flooded basements. However, more homeowners are likely to deal with flooded basements at some point. Flooded basements can cause the homeowner thousands of dollars after some time. A wet basement can lead to mildew and mould growth which can lead to breathing and health hazards.
Some homes have been using sump pit pumps for years to keep their basement dry. Nowadays, these pumps are common in newly-constructed homes.
How a sump pit pump works
A sump pump in Australia stands in a sump pit. This is a hole that has a gravel base dug in the lowest part of your crawlspace or basement. As the pit gets filled with water, the pump turns on. The pump removes the water from the pit through pipes. The pipes direct the water to a spot where it can run away from your home to a drain. The pipe has a one-way valve. The valve is called the check valve and it is located at the end of the pump to prevent the backflow of water.
When buying a sump pump in Australia, buy a pump that turns automatically through a pressure sensor or a float activator. The pressure sensor exerts more pressure on the pump’s sensor than air does. This activates the pump and turns it on. The float activator functions the same way your toilet tank functions. When the buoyant ball floats on water, it turns the switch on and the pump starts running.
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