Moving into your first home is exciting; however, the transition between renting and ownership means having to take care of your own maintenance. One part of owning a home that most first-time homeowners may not know about at first is the function of a sump pump. However, if you ever need water damage services, you’re likely to become familiar with sump pumps quickly.

Sump pumps are pumps installed in basements or crawlspaces to keep the home from flooding. These pumps need to be in the lowest point of the home and installed inside of a sump pit. Water flowing underground or seeping into the soil during torrential downpours or flooding will be pumped away from the home to prevent water from entering the basement or crawlspace.

Do I Need A Sump Pump?

Sump pumps are required to be in homes due to the U.S. Federal Clean Water Act of 1987.  If your home was built before 1987, you should check to ensure there is a sump pump in the basement.

Does the Sump Pump Work Automatically?

Automatic sump pumps do not run continuously; however, homeowners don’t need to do anything to activate them. A float activator arm acts as a pressure sensor to turn on the pump. The mechanism looks similar to what you’ll see inside of your toilet tank. When the float activator is not working correctly, your sump pump can fail and cause basement flooding. Luckily, water damage services are available to help you correct the situation. There are two types of automatic sump pumps—submersible and pedestal. Water damage services can help you decide which is best for your home.

Manual sump pumps are also available and great to be used in case of emergency when your automatic sump pump fails, and you need a backup. Manual sump pumps aren’t as convenient as automatic but work the same way.

Water damage services are ready to assist you when your sump pump fails and your basement floods. Calling the professionals is the best way to ensure that flooding from groundwater is cleaned up the safest way possible.

If you’ve had a sump pump failure, call ServiceMaster of Pittsburgh at 412-314-3832.

One reason many homeowners are hesitant to contact water damage services is that they are afraid of the price tag. The national average for water damage restoration is around $3,000; however, some services can be a little as $500 to or as high as $8,000 in some areas. This seems like a lot; however, many homeowners don’t realize what is included in water damage services and how many steps are involved in the cleanup process.

What Does Water Damage Services Include?

For most flooding situations, restoring water damage will include gray water extraction, removing furniture and other belongings, cleaning carpets and floors, cleaning surfaces, drying the room, and repairing any drywall and ceiling damage. Mildew and mold mitigation can also be included but will add to the cost of the project.

Other services you may need to help finish restoration after a flood include roofers, plumbers, and carpenters. Many times, during a flood, doors, windows, trim, flooring, and pipes need to be fixed or replaced. If new appliances need to be purchased, they will also add to the total cost of restoration. This is why homeowners need to keep in mind that restoration is not only about water removal and drying but can be much more complicated.

The hazard level of the water will also impact how much your water damage services cost. There are three categories of damage—white, grey, and black. Black level hazards such as human waste from a sump pump failure or sewage backup will be the most expensive while white will cost the least. Clean water cleanup, such as a broken pipe, can cost as little a few hundred dollars to mitigate, whereas a sewer backup or flood easily can cost more than $3,000.

If you need water damage services, call ServiceMaster of Pittsburgh at 412-314-3832.