You are viewing the Bayonet Home location.
Why is it that Florida is such a popular vacation spot? Why is it that so many people decide to spend their golden years down here? It’s because of the weather and the beaches, mostly. You do not need us to tell you that our days are full of plenty of sunshine, and that temperatures stay quite warm for nearly the entire year. What you may need us to remind you of, though, is that your air conditioning system is not the only system in your house deserving of your attention.
There are quite a few challenges for plumbing systems in this area to overcome, too. Hard water, for instance, is quite common. However, it is the risk of flooding that we want to talk about today. We won’t get too into the ugly reality of the types of storms that we can face down here. Suffice to say that protecting your home from flood damage is important, and a great sump pump is a great way to protect your home via plumbing in Clearwater, FL.
Well, Heavy Rains Aren’t That Common
That’s debatable, at best, but let’s just suppose that you know for certain (which is impossible) that there are no major storms coming down the pike—that’s not the only cause of flooding that a sump pump can protect against. Now, in the northeast and midwest, a legitimate concern is a turn in temperatures that could result in rapid snowmelt. That alone can allow water to flood basements, and sump pumps can be helpful.
What about something as simple as a burst plumbing pipe, though? Obviously, snow is not an issue down here, and you may be willing to take your chances with storm-related flooding (though we strongly suggest that you reconsider!). You have to at least protect against your own reliance upon your plumbing system because, unfortunately, no plumbing system is perfect! Now that you’re hopefully convinced that a sump pump is worthwhile, how do you go about choosing the one that’s right for you?
Pedestal vs. Submersible Pumps
There is actually a lot that goes into choosing the right sump pump for your home, including the capacity of the pump as measured by its gallon per minute rate of water removal. That gets a bit technical, and you need to know that you can count on your plumber to find the right system for handling your needs. You should at least have an understanding of the 2 major categories of sump pumps, though.
Submersible sump pumps are a great option if you’ve got an adequately sized sump pit in your property. These pumps are installed below the water line (your sump pit should not be dry), which greatly cuts down on noise levels and helps to cool the pump, too.
If you do not have room in your sump pit, then a pedestal pump is another fine option. They can be noisier, and lose the benefit of cooling, but are also quite easy to access for maintenance and service purposes.