The process of sump installation can be quite labor intensive and, while many homeowners might originally endeavor to take the project on themselves, it simply is not feasible for the vast majority of them. This is no ordinary do-it-yourself project. Installing sump pumps requires breaking into the home’s foundation and digging down at least 30 feet below the current foundation of the home. That alone can be quite labor intensive and intimidating for many homeowners, because digging into the home’s foundation can present a variety of obstacles. One of the worst obstacles is that homeowners might accidentally dig into (and damage) their own sewer and drainage lines. Big, costly mistake! Also, homeowners have to create a path for the water to be drained outside the home from the flooded area. Without the right kind of planning and technical know-how, many individuals learn the hard way that they simply drain water outside and into an area where it easily comes back into the home. This defeats the purpose of the pump installation process altogether. Another important issue that many homeowners have to tackle when doing this on their own is just which sump pump they should purchase to install in their basement in order to prevent flooding. Some homes require less powerful pumps that don’t need to remove as much water, while others will require a fully-loaded, powerful, water-moving machine. Getting the wrong pump can be a disaster and a poor investment that ends up costing even more in damaged furniture, belongings, and memories. It’s not really worth the risk! Getting help from a skilled plumber from LA Metro Plumbers can help alleviate all of these problems and make sure that any pump chosen is right for the size of the flooded area, the type of flooding that occurs (regular versus occasional), and has the right amount of power to keep operating during emergency situations. The additional benefit of hiring a skilled contractor is that they will know where is the best place to place the pump (as it relates to water levels) and where to place the drainage system that will remove the water from your home. The plumbing skills offered by LA Metro Plumbers will ensure the proper and timely installation of a pump sump that is well-suited for your home’s needs. This also ensures that the system will hold up for the long-term, and is placed for optimal draining of any water which enters the home. It ensues that the integrity of the home’s foundation, as well as its basement, is maintained in the interest of flood prevention. These are vital to the process of installing a sump pump, and many do-it-yourselfers overlook these aspects in some way and end up paying big for it in the end. Keep Your Gutters Clean: Flooding of the home’s basement can occur if the gutters and drainage systems on the outside of the home are clogged and poorly maintained. Maintaining clean drainage systems can actually prevent water from ponding immediately outside the home, reducing the amount of water which is placing pressure on the home’s foundation and significantly reducing the likelihood that any water will enter the basement — ever. When the cracks are sealed — and the water remains: Sump pumps are the best solution for basement flooding. If your home’s exterior drainage systems are cleaned and the cracks which oftentimes plague the foundations of older homes have been adequately repaired, yet water is finding its way into your basement, this indicates that the flooding is a real concern, and likely happens with even a small amount of rain. Until it is adequately fixed and the water is quickly removed by a sump pump, the foundation will continue to crack, retain water, and present a large number of home maintenance concerns. If you live in a known flood zone: If your home is located in an area that is close to a lake, stream, river, or is simply known for flooding, you’ll want to install a sump pump. The soil in these areas is often much softer, making it far easier for water to stress a foundation and ultimately find a way into the home. Furthermore, a sump pump buys homeowners much-needed extra time during emergency flooding situations. The extra time will allow them to relocate their possessions to the higher areas of the home and prevent worse flood-related damage to their possessions. If you have flood insurance: Flood insurance companies will often require homeowners to install and maintain water removal systems such as a sump pump. These items are necessary in order for the insurance company to know the policyholders have adequately reduced their risk and protected their home, and thus reducing the cost of repair after a minor or even major flooding incident. Policies are usually offered not until the condition that a sump pump is present is fulfilled, or will be installed within the first 30 days of the policy’s initiation.