A sump pump is a pump used to remove water that has accumulated in a sump pit

Sump pumps are installed in basements where flooding maybe seen as a problem, Sump pumps send water away from a house to any place where it no longer presents a problem, such as a storm drain or a dry well.

There are  two types of sump pumps: a pedestal pump and a submersible pump. The pedestal pump's motor is mounted above the pit. The submersible pump is entirely mounted inside the pit.

Sump tanks and sump pumps must be maintained. which means examining equipment every year. Sump pumps, being highly mechanical, will fail eventually, which could lead to a flooded basement requiring costly repairs.

A device every home with a basement should have is a simple battery-powered water alarm. The water sensor can be hung a few inches below the top of the sump well and will sound a shrill alarm should the pumping system fail and the water level rise too high.