sump pump Archives · R.A. Dobson Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

Directs Water out of Your Basement

Basement flooding can come from diverse causes, including groundwater accumulation, burst pipes, or an overflowing washing machine. Additionally, floodwater will make its way to the lowest grade of your home if it penetrates the structure. So, sump pumps are designed to collect water in a basin or pit and then pump it out.

Operates Automatically

Automatic sump pumps offer unrivaled protection from floodwater. They come with either a pressure activator or a float activator arm, which starts the pump’s engine when water fills the basin.

The two primary styles of automatic sump pumps are the submersible and pedestal. Submersible pumps are concealed in the sump basin, while pedestal pumps are mounted above the basin. Both options offer effective results, but pedestal pumps work best in small basements because they require less basin space.

Pumps Water to a Proper Drainage Location

Technicians can install your sump pump to collect water from under your basement floor and around your home’s foundation. Yet no matter the water’s source, the pump drains it using an impeller and centrifugal movement, which pushes the water out of the basin and into a discharge pipe. The pipe then drains the water away from your home’s foundation. You can determine an ideal drainage location with guidance from an R.A. Dobson technician.

Sump Pump Installation Services Available in Ashburn, VA

Turn to R.A. Dobson for reliable sump pump installation in Ashburn, VA. Our team is dedicated to keeping you and your family comfortable in your home with our high-quality services. We offer one-year service warranties and honor all manufacturer warranties. Get a free estimate by calling us at (703) 481-3700 today.

An effective drainage system is needed in almost every home, especially in most areas of Northern Virginia. As our area is known for its humid summer and heavy thunderstorms, the inclement weather is also known for causing major damage to homes without a proper sump pump installed. To prevent your foundation and basement from damage, consider having a sump pump professional install or replace your current sump pump in your basement.

At R.A. Dobson, we regularly perform drainage services such as affordable sump pump installations and replacements, as well as plumbing, HVAC maintenance, and much more. We have served numerous homes and businesses throughout the Sterling, VA area for over 45 years, providing dedicated customer service and excellent home appliances at quality rates.

Below, we describe general information on sump pumps and how you can test if your system is working efficiently:

Sump Pump vs. Emergency Battery Backup Pump

A sump pump occupies an area beneath your basement so that it can collect excess water that attempts to access your home’s foundation during heavy rainstorms. Sump pumps send excess water back out and away from your home’s foundation through a series of pipes. It helps prevent groundwater from collecting around your home and damaging it further as well as keeps it from flooding.

While taking into consideration that sump pumps operate off of electricity, they are often needed for emergencies like during power outages. Emergency battery backup pumps offer an additional power source to your sump pump whenever you may experience power outages.

See if your home needs a sump pump and read about the warning signs you should look out for!

How to Test if Your Current Sump Pump Works

Since our sump pumps are often out-of-sight, you may need to do a routine check to see if it’s still in working condition before the heavy rainstorms set in. You can test it by double checking if the exit pipe is free of debris first. Once this is cleared, locate the electrical cords and follow the instructions below.

For sump pumps with two cords:

Keep in mind that some pumps may have one or two cords. While the pump cord is usually connected to the float cord, the pump cord should be the only one plugged into the nearest wall outlet.

When you turn on the pump, you should hear a humming sound, which indicates that it’s working. Connect the pump cord and float cord as they originally were: first the float cord, then the pump cord, and finally plug the pump cord into the float switch.

For sump pumps with one cord:

Fill your pump pit with water until the float rises. If the pump does not switch on and pump the water out, you may need to repeat it a few times just in case. After a few tries and it doesn’t pump the water out, then contact your local sump pump replacement and installation experts for further assistance.

R.A. Dobson: Dependable Sump Pump Installation in Sterling, VA

At R.A. Dobson, we provide quality sump pump installation services, as well as experienced plumbing, cooling, heating, and other home appliance installation and maintenance services for residents throughout Sterling, VA and Northern Virginia. For well over 45 years, we have provided dedicated services and premium home appliances at affordable rates.
Contact us at (703) 481-3700 to learn more about our services and get a free estimate.

Tag Archives: sump pump

How a Sump Pump Installation Can Protect Your Home from Flooding