Water is bad news for any home, and mobile homes are no exception – especially with the fact that many aren’t placed on basements or permanent foundations. This means water can reach your home that much more easily. A common solution to avoid water damage or flooding in your home is a sump pump. A sump pump is a typically self-automated water drainage system that displaces water underneath your home to another area that (hopefully) can handle the water better.

Sump pumps have two main parts: the pit and the pump itself. The pit is the large basin/can that is placed into the ground under a home, crawlspace, or in the floor of a basement. The pit collects water, and once it fills up to a certain point, it tips part of the pump and then it pushes the water out through a small pipe system to whatever draining area is connected. The pump is usually submerged in water and a part of it floats when in contact with rising water. The way a sump pump drains is commonly compared to a toilet, in that once the tank fills up with water, it gets pushed out and the water level goes back down. The pipe system only flows the water one way – otherwise flooding could increase.

Most pumps are electric, however there are some manual options.

You’ll want to maintain your sump pump. Build up can happen, so you’ll want to turn off the pump and take out rocks or debris that gets stuck in the pit. Be sure that the pump is actually pumping water and not just sitting there. Pouring water in and watching the process happen is the best way to check.

If your pump constantly runs, you might want to change the switch, as this does not need to happen and is not energy efficient. Making sure the electrical is in proper working order is important, too. It’s a good habit to check your sump pump annually.

If you need to install a sump pump, it’s pretty doable with a little bit of know-how. You also can get a professional to do it as well if that eases your stress. These are wonderful tools to keep your underbelly from flooding or the water from reaching the floor of your home.

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