A basement water pump, also known as a sump pump, is a pump used for drainage that removes accumulated water from a sump pit. A sump pit, commonly found in the home basement where the water collects, is simply a hole in the ground to collect water. The water may enter by perimeter drains thatfunnel into the pit, or may arrive from natural ground water in the earth. But basement water pumps are an essential component to basement water drainage and keeping your basement and home dry!

Basement water pumps are installed particularly where basement flooding is a problem, but are also used to facilitate basement water drainage by lowering the water table under the foundation. They pipe water away from the house to any place where it no longer presents a hazard, such as a municipal storm drain or dry well. Older properties may have their basement water pumps, or sump pumps,. connected to an existing sanitary sewer, but this is not a good practice (and may be against the plumbing code) because it can overwhelm the municipal sewage treatment system. Though in some cases, a basement water pump is used when a lower floor is below the sewer lines, to pump greywater waste from that floor to the lines.

Basement water pumps are usually hardwired into a home's electrical system, and may have a form of battery backup. Some even use the home's pressurized water supply to power the pump, eliminating the need for electricity entirely. A big advantage to these pumps is readily running ability irregardless of the presence of utilities or running electricity.

Installing a basement water pump is a messy job and requires a bit of expertise. Although this is a project that can be performed by the novice, one must take care to check with local laws and codes to ensure proper procedures have been taken.

Basmement water pumps, sump pits, and sump pumps need to be maintained regularly. Some cautious people might say "every year", but every 4 or 5 years is usually enough. If you live in very sandy or muddy area where your pump runs a lot, it might make sense to do this every year.

The goal is to clear out the dirt, gravel, and sand from the sump. They are carried in by the water, and accumulate. This drastically shortens the life of the pump and can jam it up completely, burning it out. It can also jam up the check valve, preventing it from opening, and thus preventing water from being pumped out, which again can burn out the pump. So, a burned out pump might be really caused by a clogged check valve, a clogged pump, both, or just a very old basement water pump (though these tend to be pretty long-lasting if properly maintained). Keep on top of your pump maintenance, and you too will not have to worry about basement water drainage problems again!