Drain Tiles, Sump Pumps, and Sump Pits
Your home is equipped with a piping system around/under the perimeter of your foundation/basement. The purpose of this system is to drain water from under/around your foundation and basement. This piping drains either to “daylight” or to a sump pit depending on your building lot elevations. Flat lots generally require sump pits/pumps.
If this drainage system becomes blocked or fails for any reason your basement can flood.
Daylight Drains
If your piping drains to daylight you must always ensure this daylight pipe/drain is free and clear from dirt, top-soil, vegetation, debris, ice, snow, animals, exterior flooding, etc. Any blockage can cause the system to fail and flood your basement.
Sump Pits / Pumps
If your piping drains to a sump pit you must ensure:
- Sump pump is plugged in and has power.
- Sump pump float is not hung up and operates freely (no debris in sump pit, float not touching sides of tank, etc.)
- Sump pump runs. Test your pump regularly, especially during any significant rain falls. It is a good idea to have a backup ready in case of a pump failure as well as a flood alarm to alert you should the pump fail.
- The sump pump discharge pipe outside your home is free and clear from dirt, top soils, vegetation, debris, ice, snow, animals, exterior flooding, etc. Any blockage can cause the system to fail and flood your basement.
Do not dispose of or put excessive amounts of debris into garage or basement drains. This can eventually lead to blockage in your drainage system.
During construction of your home your basement may flood and/or have water in it (particularly when a sump pit/pump is required in your home). This is normal and cannot be prevented since until the proper systems, pumps, roofing, siding, etc. are finished in your home there is nothing to prevent water from accumulating in your basement nor, if a pump is required, to pump water out of your basement.
