Tag: crawlspace

Sump Pump Selection: What Size, Type & Backup System Do You Need?

A properly installed sump pump can mean the difference between a dry basement and a disaster. In western Pennsylvania—where heavy rains and snowmelt frequently push groundwater toward foundation walls—a reliable sump system is one of the most important tools in protecting your property.

Yet many homeowners overlook whether their pump is the right size, type, or configuration for their home’s specific drainage conditions. Below, Hill Property Inspections breaks down the key factors every homeowner should understand before the next big storm.

1. What a Sump Pump Actually Does

A sump pump is designed to automatically remove water that collects in a sump basin (pit) at the lowest point of a basement or crawlspace.

When the water level rises high enough, the pump activates and discharges water safely outside—preventing basement flooding, foundation deterioration, and mold growth.

However, not all sump pumps perform equally, and the wrong configuration can shorten pump life or fail when you need it most.

2. Pedestal vs. Submersible: Which Is Right for You?

There are two main types of sump pumps, each with pros and cons.

Pedestal Pumps

• Motor sits above the pit (on a “pedestal”) and is not submerged.

• Easier to service and generally less expensive.

• Louder and less powerful—better suited for smaller basins or infrequent use.

Submersible Pumps

• Entire unit sits below water level inside the basin.

• Quieter, more powerful, and handles higher volumes of water.

• Sealed motor resists moisture but costs more and may require full replacement when it fails.

Pro Tip: In areas like Johnstown, Somerset, Ligonier, Ebensburg, Altoona and Bedford, where basements frequently experience high groundwater, a submersible pump is typically the best long-term investment.

3. Sizing Matters: Matching Pump Capacity to Your Home

A pump that’s too small can burn out trying to keep up; one that’s too large may short-cycle and wear prematurely.

When sizing a pump, consider:

• Basin depth and diameter (commonly 18–24 inches wide, 24–30 inches deep).

• Vertical lift—the height the water must travel before discharging outside (often 8–12 feet).

• Discharge distance and pipe diameter.

• Inflow rate. If your pit fills quickly during heavy rain, you may need a higher-capacity pump (1/3 HP or 1/2 HP minimum).

A qualified inspector or plumber can help you estimate your gallons-per-minute (GPM) requirement and select the right horsepower.

4. Don’t Forget the Check Valve

Every sump system should include a check valve on the discharge pipe to prevent water from flowing back into the pit after the pump shuts off.

Without it, your pump will cycle on and off repeatedly, reducing lifespan and wasting energy.

Pro Tip: Listen for “clunking” when your pump turns off—that’s often the check valve closing. If you hear constant cycling, it may be failing.

5. The Backup System: Your Safety Net During Outages

Most basements flood not because the main pump fails—but because the power goes out during storms.

Consider one of these options:

Battery Backup System

• A secondary DC-powered pump runs automatically when the primary AC pump loses power.

• Ideal for typical residential basements.

• Batteries should be replaced every 3–5 years and tested monthly.

Water-Powered Backup System

• Uses municipal water pressure to create suction and pump out sump water—no battery or electricity required.

• Works only with city water (not wells) and consumes significant water during use.

Dual-Pump Systems

• Two AC pumps installed side-by-side, one serving as an automatic backup.

• Provides redundancy even if power is available.

Pro Tip: A sump pump alarm or smart monitoring device can alert you by phone if the water level rises unexpectedly.

6. Maintenance Tips to Keep It Working Year-Round

• Test your pump every few months by pouring water into the basin. It should activate automatically.

• Clean debris from the pit and check valve.

• Inspect the discharge line for obstructions, kinks, or freezing risk.

• Verify the outlet is on a dedicated GFCI-protected circuit.

• Replace pumps about every 7–10 years—or sooner if heavily used.

Final Thoughts

Your sump pump quietly protects your home’s foundation every time it rains. Treating it like a key mechanical system—not an afterthought—can prevent thousands of dollars in water damage.

If you’re unsure whether your sump system is properly sized, installed, or protected with a backup, Hill Property Inspections can evaluate it as part of your next inspection or as a standalone service.

We use infrared imaging and moisture meters to detect hidden seepage and verify discharge effectiveness before problems occur.

Schedule your sump system evaluation today:

📞 1-833-HILL-PRO

🌐 www.hillinspections.com

Hill Property Inspections, LLC is a full-service residential and commercial inspection firm based in the Johnstown, PA area.

Sometimes You’ve Gotta Get Dirty

We include footnotes on all of our home inspection reports to provide clients with helpful tips for basic maintenance. Among the many tips, one of the most important is periodically checking any unfinished spaces in your home – especially the attic. I can’t count how many houses we’ve inspected where the owners have confessed to never seeing their attic space, and many of them have lived in their homes for decades.

Aside from storing the Christmas tree and a few old heirlooms in the attic, most people never have a need to visit their unfinished (and let’s face it, often dirty and creepy) attic space. So it’s not surprising that no one makes it a habit of visiting their attic from time to time, and most homeowners would never even think of it. Unfinished attics – especially in old homes – bring to mind things like cobwebs, bats, and countless other eerie surprises. Out of sight, out of mind, right?

Well, as you probably guessed, avoiding scary spaces isn’t exactly the best idea. The same conditions that make unfinished spaces less than appealing also make them more prone to problems that demand periodic monitoring. If you’re diligent about paying these spaces an occasional visit, you’ll be far more likely to spot possible issues and deal with them quickly before they have an opportunity to turn into much bigger, more expensive defects.

The owners of a house we recently inspected learned this lesson all too well after getting news of our report. In general, the home was very nice and well maintained, so we didn’t expect to run into any major defects. Of course, I knew that if any area would have problems it would probably be the attic, and unfortunately that turned out to be true. The attic wasn’t adequately ventilated and the inspection was in the middle of winter, so temperature extremes had quickly led to condensation buildup of vapor-laden air on the rafters and roof sheathing, along with subsequent dark staining, microbial growth, wood deterioration and water dripping onto the attic floor and insulation below. See the photos below to see what I mean…

I instantly felt bad for the homeowners, knowing they had worked hard to maintain their home very well over the years, and also knowing they probably never checked their attic and had no clue that this issue was lurking above their heads all along. Had they known how important it is to check unfinished spaces and not just the main living space, they undoubtedly would have discovered and dealt with their ventilation problem far earlier. As a side note, I should also point out that this is precisely why people get home inspections. The buyers of the home may very well have never entered the attic space either, and they would have been saddled with a major problem down the road!

Set reminders for yourself to periodically check unfinished spaces in your home, like attics and crawlspaces, that you normally wouldn’t enter. Do this at least once each season (about once every three months) at a minimum, and preferably a little more often. Yes, it may require getting a little dirty and dealing with some things that are a bit creepy, but it’s far better than allowing defects to form and grow undetected and having a costly mess on your hands in the future! And if you just aren’t comfortable doing this yourself, you can always hire a professional to do it for you.

*To visit our main website, go to http://www.hillinspections.com