Preventing Basement Water Damage or Flood
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What can I do to make sure the basement does not flood and prevent water damage? © By: Dave Rongey |
Pump System and Basement Water Damage
Electrical Question:What can I do to make sure the basement does not flood and prevent water damage from happening?
Kevin in Illinois asks:
- There have been heavy rains in the area and the ejector pump in my parents’ basement failed, or just simply stopped working.
- Because the house was empty at the time (my father had passed away and my mother was in the hospital) gray water backed-up into the basement severely.
- Because I take care of both my house and that house, I ended up having to gut the entire finished basement and remodel.
- Naturally, I first had to replace the ejector pump and it was then I discovered the fuse had blown. It’s on it’s own “circuit” so to speak (something I never knew before), with a separate switch box and 15-amp fuse. of course, I then replaced the blown fuse and also left a box of new fuses close by so as to replace that one if ever necessary.
- It was then I began wondering if the fuse had simply blown rather than the pump failing. I still don’t know to this day.
So my questions are:
- Should I routinely replace the 15-amp fuse despite the fact it is working fine?
- Do fuses have a “usage life?”
- Should I replace the ejector pump every 6-8-10 years despite not having any problems?
- Should I replace the entire separate switch box with the fuse?
- Is this all antiquated?
Thanks for any guidance.
Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical wiring question Kevin.
How to Prevent Water Damage to a Basement
Application: Basement Ejector Sump Pump System.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced – Best performed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor, or Certified Electrician.
Electrical Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch Hand Tools, Voltage Tester, and appropriate Safety Gear.
Estimated Time: Depends on the personal level experience, ability to work with tools, install electrical circuit wiring, and the available access to the project area.
Electrical Safety: Identify the electrical power source to the Pump, turn it OFF and Tag with a Note before working with the electrical wiring.
Electrical Wiring Parts and Materials: Electrical parts and materials for the Pump should be approved for the specific project and compliant with local and national electrical codes.
Electrical Codes and Inspections: Installing or changing home electrical wiring should be done according to local and national electrical codes as adopted in Chicago, Illinois. A permit and inspections may also be required.
Preventing a Flooded Basement
This electrical wiring project is about a Blown Fuse for a Pump in the Basement of a Old Home that created a flood and water damage to the home.
The following are suggestions that will help prevent a flooded basement
- Kevin, from the information you have provided, a fuse should not break down over time, and as long as the pump is of good quality it should be dependable for the warranted period of time specified by the manufacturer.
Upgrade the Basement Ejector Pump System
- Having a qualified electrical contractor upgrading the pump system components to new equipment is always a good idea, and this will ensure that everything is up to date with current electrical codes.
Install a WiFi Smart Water Detector or Leak Detector
- You may also want to consider installing a Water Detector that can warn you if the system fails. There are several ways to do this, one way is to get a WiFi Leak Sensor and configure it to notify you with a message to your cell phone / smart phone or your email.
Preventative Maintenance – Property Management
- Routine preventive maintenance checks would be very good as well where the system components are inspected and tested to ensure the basement pump system is working properly.
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