Major cause of water damage to basements

4/30/2019 (Permalink)

Have you checked on me lately?

Walking down the neighborhoods in Tea, SD; I begin to see a familiar site. Most homes have a sump pump hose discharging in the city drains. You can hear the sounds of rushing water and see the hoses expand with flowing water. 

Sump pumps are installed into a sump pit. Water flows into the pit either through drain tile or naturally by the soil. The sump pump's top function is to pump the water out of the pit and away from your home. 

It is important to periodically check your sump pump to ensure it is properly running. In addition to checking the pump, make sure to look at your drain hose to ensure it is not blocked, plugged, and pointing away from the house. 

Sump pump failures can cause major damage to your basement. Costs can far exceed $5,000 for drying the home and all the repairs depending on the size of your living space. We have seen some water damage losses from sump pump failure exceed $15,000. Reach out to your insurance agent and double check to see if you are covered and what limits of coverage apply to you.