You might need a sump pump for your crawl space if water collects there after rain, groundwater seeps in, or the house sits over a high water table, as many coastal Carolina homes do. A sump pump collects that water in a pit and pumps it out of the house, which helps prevent the mold, wood rot and pests that standing water invites.
This article explains how a crawl space sump pump works and what it helps with.
Moisture Problems in Crawl Spaces
Before we discuss sump pumps directly, let’s discuss some of the reasons why they are important. The main reason sump pumps become necessary for many homes is that crawl spaces and basements are prone to accumulating more moisture than other parts of your house.
Since crawl spaces are at the lowest point of a building, it is only natural that this is the area of your home where it is most common for standing water to appear. Whether due to stormwater runoff, groundwater, or some other source, puddling and flooding can become a prevalent problem for crawl spaces.
Additionally, many crawl spaces have excess moisture as well. This results from the fact that warm, humid air can flow into a crawl space and condense on cool surfaces.
Excess humidity and standing water are both worth removing. When moisture builds up, it can damage the wood framing and encourage mold and mildew, which can affect the air in your home.
How Does a Sump Pump Work?
Here is how a sump pump handles that water.
Most sump pumps include a few main elements. First, there is the sump pit, which is nothing more than a reservoir that collects water from your crawl space. Other drainage, such as an interior French drain or floor drains, can feed into the sump pit.
Once the water is in the pit, the pump moves it through a pipe up and out of the house, to a place where it is away from the foundation.
Benefits of a Sump Pump
These are the main benefits of a sump pump in a crawl space:
- Water removal: The primary reason to use a sump pump for a crawl space is to remove water. Removing water leads to all of the following benefits on this list.
- Less mold and mildew growth: Less water in the crawl space makes mold and mildew less likely, which helps the air in your home.
- Insect and pest prevention: When you allow water to stand in your crawl space, it can become a breeding ground for insects that eat wood and other pests. Sump pumps give those pests fewer opportunities to reproduce and infest your home.
- Fewer foul odors: Water in your crawl space can also produce foul odors that eventually seep into your home. A sump pump helps limit those odors.
Those are the main benefits of a crawl space sump pump installation. A pump is not the only way to handle crawl space water, though.
Other Ways to Manage Crawl Space Moisture
Sump pumps are one way to manage crawl space moisture. Pairing a sump pump with the methods below is often the most complete approach:
- Interior drainage system: An interior crawl space drain (an interior French drain) collects groundwater along the inside of the foundation and carries it to the sump pump.
- Crawl space encapsulation: Encapsulation covers the crawl space floor, walls and piers with a sealed liner, which helps keep ground moisture out.
- Dehumidification: Following an encapsulation service, it is often a good idea to set up a dehumidification system. Many dehumidifiers will allow you to set an ideal relative humidity for your crawl space.
Again, these solutions typically work best when you use them together rather than choosing just one. Consulting with a trusted foundation professional is the best way to find out which of these services is best for your home.
Get Professional Help for Your Crawl Space
If you are struggling to keep your crawl space dry, a professional inspection can show whether a sump pump, interior drainage or encapsulation fits. HydroHelp911 provides waterproofing and structural repairs for crawl spaces and foundations across both Carolinas.
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Written by
Cory Parks
Owner & President, HydroHelp911
Cory Parks founded HydroHelp911 and leads its structural and moisture repair work for homeowners across North and South Carolina, from the clay soils of the Piedmont to the saturated, sandy ground along the coast.
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