Water Extraction Guides · Causes & Prevention

Sump Pumps and Water Extraction: What Homeowners Ask

A sump pump is one of those household items that most homeowners have heard of and few have seen working. It sits in a pit at the lowest point of a home, and when water gathers in the pit, the pump switches on and moves the water out, away from the home. It is a water-control tool, not an extraction method, and understanding the difference helps a homeowner know what a sump pump can and cannot do.

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This guide answers the questions homeowners ask about sump pumps and water extraction, for homes in Denham Springs and Central alike. For the service itself, the standing water removal page gives a general outline. Basements are rare in Louisiana, and this guide does not claim otherwise.

What a sump pump is

A sump pump is a pump fitted in a pit, called a sump, at the lowest point of a home, usually in a below-grade space or a low corner where water gathers first. When water enters the pit, a float rises with the water level, and when the float reaches a set point, the pump switches on and moves the water out through a pipe, discharging it away from the home. When the water level falls, the float drops, and the pump switches off.

The pump does not dry a home, and it does not remove water from floors or walls. It moves water out of the pit, and by doing so it keeps the water level in the lowest part of the home down. It is a tool for controlling water that gathers in one place, and it works quietly in the background, switching on and off as the water level rises and falls.

A sump pump is a pump fitted in a pit at the lowest point of a home, usually in a below-grade space or a low corner where water gathers first. When water enters the pit, a float rises with the water level, and when the float reaches a set point, the pump switches on and moves the water out through a pipe, discharging it away from the home. When the water level falls, the float drops, and the pump switches off.

What a sump pump is not

A sump pump is not a water extraction method, and it is not a substitute for extraction. Extraction removes standing and trapped water from floors, carpet, and the rooms of a home, using equipment brought in for the job. A sump pump moves water out of a pit, and it does nothing for the water already on the floors, in the carpet, or inside the walls. When a home is flooded, the sump pump may help keep the water level down, but the water in the rooms still needs extraction.

A sump pump is also not a drying tool. It does not deal with dampness in materials, and it does not take moisture out of the air. Drying is a separate stage, handled by air movers and dehumidifiers, and it follows extraction. A home with a sump pump still needs extraction and drying after a water event, just as a home without one does.

Sump Pumps and Water Extraction: What Homeowners Ask — Louisiana water guide

Why sump pumps come up in Louisiana

Sump pumps come up in Louisiana because water gathers in low places, and Louisiana has many of them. A home with a below-grade space, a low corner, or a yard that gathers water can benefit from a pump that moves the water out before it rises into the living areas. Basements are rare in Louisiana, and most homes are built on slabs or raised floors, so a sump pump is not a standard feature of a Louisiana home, and this guide does not claim that it is.

Where a sump pump is fitted, it is usually in a low spot where water gathers first, and it is there to keep that water from rising further. It is one tool among others, and it works best as part of a wider approach to keeping water away from the home: gutters, drainage, and grading, covered in their own guides elsewhere on this site.

What to check on a sump pump

A sump pump needs a check now and then, because a pump that has not run for months may not run when it is needed. Pour water into the pit and check that the pump switches on, moves the water out, and switches off when the level falls. Check that the discharge pipe is clear and that the water goes away from the home, not back toward the walls. Check that the pump has power, and that the outlet it uses is safe and dry.

If the pump does not switch on, or if it runs without moving water, it needs attention from a professional. Do not reach into the pit if the water has come into contact with sewage, and do not handle electrics in standing water. A sump pump is a simple machine, but it is an electrical machine in a wet place, and it deserves care.

Basements are rare in Louisiana, and most homes are built on slabs or raised floors, so a sump pump is not a standard feature of a Louisiana home. Where one is fitted, it is usually in a low spot where water gathers first, and it is there to keep that water from rising further. It is one tool among others, and it works best as part of a wider approach to keeping water away from the home.

When extraction is still needed

A sump pump does not replace extraction. When water is standing on the floors, soaked into carpet, or inside the walls, extraction is still needed, and the sump pump cannot do that work. Call (877) 624-0105 if water has entered your home; availability is confirmed on the call. Never enter a flooded building, and never handle electrics in standing water.

The sump pump and the extraction visit work together: the pump keeps the water level in the lowest part of the home down, and extraction takes the water out of the rooms. Both have their place, and neither replaces the other.

Key Takeaways

A sump pump is a pump fitted in a pit, called a sump, at the lowest point of a home, usually in a below-grade space or a low corner where water gathers first.
A sump pump is not a water extraction method, and it is not a substitute for extraction.
Sump pumps come up in Louisiana because water gathers in low places, and Louisiana has many of them.
A sump pump needs a check now and then, because a pump that has not run for months may not run when it is needed.
A sump pump does not replace extraction.

Questions About Sump Pumps and Water Extraction: What Homeowners Ask

What does a sump pump do?

A sump pump sits in a pit at the lowest point of a home, and when water gathers in the pit, a float rises and the pump switches on, moving the water out through a pipe away from the home. When the level falls, the pump switches off.

Is a sump pump the same as water extraction?

No. A sump pump moves water out of a pit, while extraction removes standing and trapped water from floors, carpet, and rooms, using equipment brought in for the job. A sump pump does nothing for the water already on the floors or inside the walls.

Do Louisiana homes have sump pumps?

How do I check my sump pump?

Pour water into the pit and check that the pump switches on, moves the water out, and switches off when the level falls. Check that the discharge pipe is clear and that the water goes away from the home. Do not reach into the pit if the water is contaminated.

Your Next Step

If this guide matches what you found at home, the next step is a visit — not a guess. Call and describe what you found, and the visit is arranged from what you describe. The Standing Water Removal page explains what that service covers, and the water removal page explains what that service covers when water has spread to more than one room.

Do not enter flooded rooms while you wait, and if water is leaking, turn off the shut-off valve for that fixture where you can reach it safely from dry ground.

Keep the guides on this site bookmarked: the first guide, the signs guide, and the preparation guide cover the checks worth repeating — after moving in, and after bringing used fixtures home.

Water extraction help is available across Louisiana. See water extraction in Richwood, LA for one local example, or find your town on the service areas page.