If you live in an area prone to things like heavy rain and a high water table (like some neighborhoods in the Niagara Region are, including in St. Catharines and Welland), then making sure your basement is waterproof should be high on your priority list of home improvements.

While not necessarily required or even recommended for ALL homes, installing a sump pump can be a crucial step for many in the effort to maintain a dry basement.

Cities in Niagara offer a grant program through the city for homeowbers to install a sump pump and disconnect from the city sewers.

WHAT DOES A BASEMENT SUMP PUMP DO?

Sump pumps are designed to carry water away from your home to avoid structural damage to your foundation and to avoid basement flooding.

An important thing to consider when choosing which sump pump to install is ensuring it has a battery backup. When the storms rage and your power goes out, a backup power source will help make sure the sump pump remains operating when it’s needed the most.

WHY YOU SHOULD HIRE A SUMP PUMP SPECIALIST

Even many of the most fervent do-it-yourselfers hire a sump pump installation specialist because it’s understood how important a properly installed sump pump is to the safety of your homes foundation.

A poorly or incorrectly installed sump pump can leave your home vulnerable to a catastrophe the next time the rain falls.

Properly installing a basement sump pump involves several important steps to ensure effective foundation waterproofing.

Foundation Waterproofing By Moe will:

  1. Assess and Plan:Moe will evaluate your basement layout and determine the optimal location for the sump pump pit, typically in the lowest part of the basement floor.

  2. Excavate by Hand Shovel: We’ll dig a hole for the sump pump pit, ensuring it's deep enough to accommodate the pump and allow for proper drainage.

  3. Install the Sump Pump: Your new sump pump will be installed inside the pit. We will make sure it’s securely positioned and the float switch (if applicable) moves freely without any obstruction and at the proper height from the floor.

  4. Check Valve Installation:We’ll also install a check valve on the discharge pipe to prevent water from flowing back into the sump pit when the pump turns off. Properly placed check valves are especially important when it comes to battery back-up pumps.

  5. Install Discharge Pipe: A discharge pipe will be connected to your new sump pump in order to route water to a safe location outside of your home where water can be safely discharged, such as into a designated drainage area like a storm sewer drain or onto a well graded property.

  6. Test: Finally, we will ensure the pump is properly grounded and connected to a GFCI-protected outlet to prevent electrical hazards and reduce risk. We’ll finish things off by testing the sump pump by pouring water into the pit to ensure it activates and pumps water out effectively.

Before we wrap things up we’ll also provide maintenance tips and information to help make sure your sump pump is always operating well.

If ever it’s needed, we also offer inspections and sump pump repairs.

For best results and to help ensure you’re compliant with local building codes and regulations, hire a qualified sump pump specialist like us to install your basement sump pump system.

Contact us anytime for a free foundation estimate and we also offer foundation evaluations and inspections within the Niagara Region.