Sump pumps are used to remove water and acts as a last defense against flooding in your home. The sump pit is installed in the basement of your home and is set below the basement floor level. Around the foundation of the home there is drain tile, gravel and filter cloth. Water that drains into the soils around the outside of your home creates hydrostatic pressure. To keep things simple, the drain tile collects this water and passes it through the foundation weep hole locations. The sump pit will also collect water from areaway drains, window well drains, and AC condensation lines. The pit and pump location in the basement collects and evacuates this water to the outside of the home.  When the water reaches a certain level, the float will engage, pumping the water from your sump pit through a discharge line to the outside.

Keeping your sump pump in excellent working order is very important to protecting your home from moisture damage. It will also help to protect your foundation from excessive soil moisture. Keep your area way and window wells clear of debris, leaves, snow etc. Periodically, clean out your AC condensation lines so the water can freely move to the sump pit location. The grading around the outside of your home should fall away from the foundation. If you have low or negative ground settlement conditions around the foundation of your home, address them immediately. Down spouts can also be a culprit for foundation water entering the home. Negative grading conditions can lead to serious foundation cracking and water entering the home's structure.

Testing of your sump pump should only take a few minutes and is very easy to do. Watch the short video below for step by step directions on what to do.



If you have questions or concerns about your new home, please refer to your Homeowner's Manual or contact the Winchester Homes Warranty Department for assistance.