The sump pump below your home serves an important role in keeping your home dry. As water moves in around the foundation or rises up from the water table, the drainage system collects the water, diverts it to the sump pump, and then it is pumped away from your home. It keeps your property dry, but homeowners need to maintain it for continued protection.
Sump pumps sit in a basin where water is allowed to collect. A series of buried pipes below the home collect water from around the foundation and deposit it in this basin. When the water reaches a certain level, the pump turns on and removes it from the basin. If the pump stops working, the water will overflow the basin and eventually flood into the basement or crawlspace.