What Is a Sump Pump Used For in Homes in Red Oak, Texas?

Basements and crawl spaces may need additional protection from encroaching flood waters, even in Red Oak, Texas. If you’re in one of these low-lying areas, you might be looking up possible defenses against flash floods and rising groundwater and find pumps mentioned. What is a sump pump used for, though? 

Since Benjamin Franklin Plumbing & Drain Services of Duncanville specializes in plumbing services in Red Oak, TX, our services include fixing and installing sump pumps. Let’s explore these preventative drainage system fixtures below. 

What Exactly Are Sump Pumps?

A sump pump gives your property a drainage system to guide excess water out of the lowest surfaces and away from a building’s foundations. Typically, you find sump pumps in homes with underground areas that can become swamped with rising waters after excessive rainfall soaks too much water into the ground.

The dirt acts like a sponge, but only soaks up and holds so much before the liquid has to trickle back up to the surface. So, what is a sump pump used for? Well, you don’t want that water getting inside your home in Red Oak, Texas, and a sump pump is used for fast, efficient water removal.

What Is a Sump Pump Used For?

You need sump pumps in buildings where the water table isn’t far from the ground’s surface. The water table in Red Oak, Texas, fluctuates between 600 and 100 feet, which means it can rise sharply during particularly rainy seasons. Wet years can bring excessive rainfall, like with the record-breaking Texas floods of 2025, and groundwater could quickly surface to overtake your basement, cellar, and crawl space. 

Here’s how sump pumps work during flood events:

1. Water begins infiltrating the basement area.
2. The pump basin reaches a specific depth, triggering pumping. 
3. The sump pump pulls in the water, redirecting it through a discharge pipe outdoors. 
4. The discharge drains the water in a downhill area a safe distance away, where it flows via drainage ditches and other graded infrastructure. 

What is a sump pump used for when it isn’t flooding? It serves the same purpose: constantly draining the lowermost level of your building. Draining excess water protects these spaces from expensive water damage in any weather.

Do You Have To Install a Sump Pump in Red Oak, Texas?

You don’t necessarily have to install a sump pump at your home in Red Oak, Texas, but why risk it? You might discover an unpleasant and potentially dangerous surprise in your basement, cellar, or crawl space during a year with heavy rainfall!

Flood waters are dangerous because:

• They hide sharp, foreign objects that may injure you if you try to wade through them. 
• They harbor wastewater and pathogens that can cause infections. 
• They dislodge or damage appliances like HVAC systems and water heaters.
• The water can also conduct electricity if it reaches outlets, increasing the potential for shock and electrocution. 

Think of a sump pump as part of your basement waterproofing system. A simple pump installation could prevent the above scenarios from threatening your health and safety. 

Choosing a Sump Pump To Drain Your Building

What is a sump pump used for, and how do you pick one that works for you? You have three primary pump varieties for effective flood prevention:

1. Pedestal: These motors rest atop the pumps. They often cost less but offer less pumping power. 
2. Submersible: The motors of this pump type can be submerged without damage. They have stronger pumps but cost more than their pedestal counterparts. 
3. Backup: This pump type depends on battery power. If the power goes out and your main pump stops working, this one takes over. 

You can also choose a combination system with a main pump system and a backup option. 

What Goes Into Designing a Sump Pump Setup?

The whole system involves more than just the pump itself; it needs piping to transfer water out of the area and a basin to hold it. Towns like Red Oak, Texas, have specific codes for installing these drainage systems. The regulations help avoid flooding other properties or nearby drainage systems. 

An experienced local plumber like Benjamin Franklin Plumbing & Drain Services of Duncanville can design and install yours for code compliance and flood protection.