Sump pump installation at a house in Highland Park, Illinois

There are a lot of things you can do to keep water out of your basement. You could patch up the cracks in your foundation, you could install drain tiles around your house, and you could even grade your yard so that water doesn’t pool near your foundation.

However, the single most effective way to keep your basement water-free is to install a sump pump. A sump pump is a waterproofing device that detects when groundwater levels have risen too high, then kicks into action to pump that groundwater to a different area. In doing this, it ultimately prevents water from make its way into your basement.

Are you interested in learning more about sump pumps and what they can do for your basement? This basement waterproofing company in Highland Park, Illinois is here to explain everything you’ll need to know.

Primary Sump Pump vs Backup Sump Pump

While it generally only takes one sump pump to get the job done, most basements are equipped with two sump pumps: the primary sump pump and the backup sump pump. We’re going to explain each type in detail below.

Primary Sump Pump

The primary sump pump is the first line of defense for your basement. It runs on electricity, and it is utilized more often than backup sump pumps. In most cases, it’s the sump pump that does all the hard work. In fact, some basements in Highland Park, Illinois rely solely on a primary sump pump.

Backup Sump Pump

The backup sump pump exists to relieve the primary sump pump if it fails to function. This is common in situations where the power goes out. If the primary sump pump loses electricity and shuts off, the backup sump pump (which is powered by a battery) will kick into action and do the exact same job that the primary sump pump was doing.

Submersible Sump Pump vs Pedestal Sump Pump

As any reputable Highland Park basement waterproofing specialist will tell you, there here are two types of sump pumps: submersible sump pumps and pedestal sump pumps. We’re going to discuss the specifics of each below.

Submersible Sump Pump

As the name implies, submersible sump pumps are literally submersed in water. In other words, they go down into the sump pit and float on the water that sits within it.

More powerful than pedestal pumps, they’re great at pumping out solid materials like stones, sticks, leaves, etc. This makes them more valuable, but more expensive to install as well.

In most cases, this is the recommended type of sump pump for Highland Park, Illinois homes. It’s more expensive, but it’s well worth its price.

Pedestal Sump Pump

Pedestal sump pumps sit above their respective sump pits. These are equipped with a pump component that dips down into the water below. This pump does a good job of pumping out water, but it often struggles with solid objects. As such, it should be seen as a decent alternative to the submersible pump.

There is only one situation where your Highland Park basement waterproofing company might recommend a pedestal sump pump over the alternative, and that’s if your sump pit is too narrow for a submersible pump.

Ready to Install a New Sump Pump? Contact the Top-Rated Basement Waterproofing Company in Highland Park, Illinois

Are you interested in installing a sump pump in your home? If so, and if you’re looking to partner with the premier basement waterproofing company in Highland Park, Illinois, ULB-DRY Waterproofing is the company to call.

We have installed sump pumps in countless homes throughout the Highland Park area, and we’d be happy to do the same for your home. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.