Basement Drainage Pumps for Flood Prevention and Water Removal

The Ultimate Guide to Basement Drainage Water Pumps and Sump Pumps.

You may have very good home maintenance, however unfortunately even with precautions such as improved garden drainage and exterior sealing, water can still leak into the basement or cellar. They are prone to flooding as the groundwater is often higher than the basement floor level, and a basement is not usually watertight. If your basement or cellar is flooded, we recommend using a basement drainage pump to pump out the flood water.

Basements are at high risk of flooding as they are often below ground level. Major causes include:

• Groundwater Flooding: Rising water tables during heavy rain can lead to groundwater infiltration if basements aren't tanked, waterproofed or sealed. Groundwater flooding is generally not well understood; however, the water table can rise during heavy or prolonged periods of rain. When the ground is full of water, it is called ‘saturated’. The water table varies at different locations. If your basement isn’t sealed or tanked, and the water table rises above the level of your basement or cellar floor, then water can enter the basement. Bricks and mortar are naturally porous, and regardless of the age of the house, water can enter through cracks, holes, or even through service entry points.
  • Groundwater levels can change over time, depending on the level of water extraction from the aquifers below the ground level.
  • Did you know: Groundwater provides 33% of our water supplies in England and Wales and this is managed by the Environment Agency.
• Surface Water Flooding: Overwhelmed drainage systems may direct rainwater into basements through cracks, defects, or the through the natural porosity of the brickwork. This is particularly common where external drainage is inadequate, such as downpipes not having formal drainage connections, and water pooling around a property.
• River Flooding: Intense rainfall can cause rivers to overflow, putting nearby cellars and basements at risk. When rivers flood, groundwater will also rise, causing cellar flooding.
• Water Leaks: It is not unheard of that clean water pipes can leak or burst causing flooding. To identify if this may be occurring a water sample can be taken and tested in comparison with tap water from the property.
• Other Causes: Overflowing rooftop gutters can lead water to flow down the exterior walls, potentially seeping into the basement or other areas of the home. Additionally, if your garden or landscape slopes toward the house, it may direct rainwater toward the foundations, increasing the risk of basement flooding. Sewer backflow can also contribute to basement flooding.

What Can Be Done to Mitigate Against Basement Flooding?

Utilising Basement Drainage and Sump Pumps

Our selection of basement flood water pumps have been selected for ultimate effectiveness with reliability. With many options available, we’ve selected pumps that are suited to basement drainage.

The easiest, quickest and most cost-effective ways to help drain your basement are one of two ways depending on how much and often your basement floods:

1. You can purchase and use a puddle pump which can simply be placed on the floor without any preparation needed. As the water level in the basement rises, the pump can be used to drain the water. The Tsurumi LSC1.4S Puddle Pump can pump water as low as 1mm.
2. If your basement floods regularly, you may wish to install a sump to place a submersible pump in to, or, a complete kit with a Packaged Pump Station. By using an automatic submersible pump all you need to do is place it in to the sump and when the water reaches a certain depth the pump will turn on. When the water level drops to a particular safe level it will switch itself off. This leaves a passive basement drainage system where the water level is automatically controlled.

If you wish to have a robust basement waterproofing system, or to convert the basement into a room, water pumps can be used in conjunction with a ‘Type C’ Cavity Membrane System to waterproof the basement. We would advise speaking with a basement waterproofing specialist prior to undertaking this, however any such system would be used in conjunction with a Packaged Pump Station. The FPS Iguazu Sump 635 is incredibly popular in this scenario, utilising the AMA Drainer 301 Automatic Submersible Water Pump.

For health and safety reasons, engine driven pumps are not included in this range, and must not be run in a basement or cellar.

Benefits of Installing a Basement Drainage Water Pump

Prevent Costly Damage: Avoid repair expenses and protect your home by helping to maintain a dry basement.

Maximise the Usability of the Space: Cellars and basements are often used to store equipment, or, for example in pubs, vital to the function of the building. By ensuring any water that enters is removed before it builds to any depth, it maximises the space available.

Choosing Between Manual and Automatic Water Pumps

Pump Variety: Choose between manual or automatic pumps based on your flood risk and budget.

Dependent on your circumstances, you may prefer either a manual or automatic basement pump. A manual water pump can be turned on and off by the operator when required, or an automatic pump can be left in situ and will turn on if the water level rises and triggers the automatic switch to turn the pump on – this will then turn off when the water is drained.

Manual Pumps: Provide control by turning them on and off as needed.

Automatic Pumps: Ideal for constant monitoring; these switch on automatically when water reaches a certain level and off when sufficiently drained.

Pro Tip: The EGO500 Water Pump offers dual functionality with automatic and manual modes, reaching water levels as low as 10mm in manual mode.

Basement Drainage Water Pump Example:

Below you'll see 2 images showing a water pump set up in a customer's cellar. They have an AMA Drainer 301 Automatic Water Pump for day to day water ingress and groundwater, situated in a sump. The AMA Drainer is ideal thanks to its narrow arm float switch. Alongside this, they have a very powerful APP HD-15 Automatic Pump, which is designed to activate when river flooding occurs and the smaller pump becomes overwhelmed. This is a great setup on a riverside property which experiences water ingress into the basement. The client also improved the surface water drainage externally.

Investing in Flood Control Pumps: Why It Matters

Flooding is unpredictable, but a quality basement water pump reduces the risk and impact on your home. Even with optimal drainage, heavy rainfall and high water tables can overwhelm basements, making a reliable pump an essential investment.

If basement flooding has not been an issue before, and you wake up one morning to find it full of water, our Stream SPP2-4 Submersible Puddle Pump can be used to remove water from a basement, and they offer incredible value.

Your Trusted Supplier of Basement Water Pumps:

As the UK’s leading retailer of Basement Drainage and Sump Pumps, and a trusted supplier to the Environment Agency, NHS, and councils nationwide, floodandwaterpumps.co.uk is the reliable choice for quality and service. Enjoy peace of mind with our extensive warranties, fast delivery, and fantastic customer support.