Need A Sump Pump? Use This Buyer’s Guide To Get What You Need

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Sump pumps have become a must-have item in many homes since the enactment of the federal Clean Water Act.

The act led to changes in how rainwater could be drained away from homes. Namely, it prohibited builders from running a drainage system that sent rainwater into local sewer lines. As a result, many residential drainage designs could not meet the need to direct rainwater at a distance that was far enough to prevent basement and crawl space flooding. Many homes, therefore, have experienced water damage.

But installing a sump pump is an effective, lasting solution to preventing water damage to your basement or crawl space. If you’re in the market for one, here’s what you should look for:

  • Size – You will hear some industry terms when you’re sizing a sump pump. Total developed head is the term that plumbers and contractors use to calculate how much water the sump pump must remove from a space, which basically depends on your basement’s ceiling height and how far away your discharge should be. These factors are generally more important than the actual horsepower of a given system.
  • Type of system – Sump pumps are made from a variety of materials, including cast iron, plastic and stainless steel or a combination of stainless steel and cast iron. Be aware that plastic pumps won’t last as long as the durable cast iron ones.
  • Switch quality – The float switch on your sump pump basically tells the unit when to cycle on. You have two options. A dual float switch, which has two switches — the second one will activate if the first fails — or a system with electronic level control, which bypasses using a float or any moving parts in fact, so there is less wear and tear and possibility of failure.

The best way to maximize your investment in a sump pump is to use a professional to help you select, size and properly install it. For more information about sump pumps, or to schedule an appointment, contact Apollo Home in Cincinnati. In addition to our regular service, we respond to emergency calls.

Image via Shutterstock.com

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"Ernie & Mike did a superb job on my new furnace and A/C installation. Despite having more than a day’s work to do, they came in and stayed until the job was done. They were organized, efficient, and protected the rest of the house well. Got both furnace and A/C installed the same day. Ernie was courteous, informative, and clearly knew his job better than anyone I’ve encountered before. The units look so good guests now get The Tour of our new system. Apollo is clearly not a fly-by-night company. I would recommend them to anyone in need of a new furnace and/or A/C."
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"I called Apollo because of a water leak I thought I had in our upstairs shower going into the kitchen. Robbie came and assured me everything was fine & looked at all the other plumbing. He ended up changing a few pipes for our washer & clearing a drain. He was very nice & knowledgeable with all my questions. I ended up signing up for the care plan & was very happy with my service."
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"The team at Apollo exceeded my expectations. As a business owner, my attention to the details and commitment to providing excellent service is high. From the sales rep. to the installation team, everyone’s performance was outstanding. For example, the installation team went to great lengths to protect our floors, placing floor runners and across the wood floors and up the stairs. They even were spot washing walls upon their departure. I highly recommend this company."
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"We scheduled an estimate AND a tune-up. We knew something was wrong with our furnace, but hoped we could make it through the rest of the season. Upon telling Bill what our furnace was doing, he warned us immediately what the possible outcome was going to be; a cracked heat exchanger. He watched the flames roll backward, tested carbon monoxide levels, which were so high they meter’s last reading was 5,600 before saying “high”. He immediately shut it down, tagged it, and explained that with levels that high and children in our home he wanted off right away. He continued his inspection and showed us via a camera that not only was it cracked in multiple places, but had holes all over it. He gave us a few options for repairing it; his knowledge as well as genuine concern was beneficial and refreshing. Luckily we also scheduled an estimator, Micah, to come too and we were able to get costs between repairing and replacing (with several options). We decided to replace with a much higher efficiency furnace and one sized properly to our home. Hands down, not only did they both provide us great service and knowledge, but without sounding dramatic, they may have saved our lives. This was our first time calling Apollo, but it won’t be our last."
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"Apollo is an excellent company. I always receive great service. Alex A. was professional and friendly. He kept me informed during the process of checking my furnace and heat pump to make sure they were working properly. The company makes sure you are notified who is coming and when they are on the way. All my interactions with the company have been wonderful."
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