Basement sump pumps
A sump pump system costs €1,000 to €2,000. It's the heart of a drained basement: water runs behind the membrane to a chamber, and the pump lifts it out to a drain.
Free, no obligation. One local company prices it, not five.
- €1,000 to €2,000for a sump pump system
- Yearlyservice, to keep it working
- €500 to €2,000a radon sump with a fan (a different sump)
- 2 pumpsor battery back-up, for wet basements
What a sump does
A sump is a chamber set into the basement floor. Channels under the edge of the floor, or the gap behind a cavity drain membrane, carry water into it. When the water rises, a float switches the pump on and it lifts the water up and out to a drain.
- Two pumps or a battery back-up. If the only pump fails in a storm, or the power goes, the basement floods. In a wet basement, plan for both.
- A high-water alarm. It tells you the pump isn't keeping up before the water reaches the floor.
- Where the water goes. To a surface water drain or soakaway, never back against the wall it came through.
- A yearly service. Clean the chamber, test the float and the alarm, check the non-return valve.
A radon sump is a different thing: a small pit under the floor with a fan that draws the gas out. See radon and basements.
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Related guides
- Waterproofing and tankingSlurry tanking, membranes, sumps and what each costs.
- Tanking vs cavity drain membraneType A against Type C, and which suits a wet basement.
- Damp basementsRising damp, penetrating damp, groundwater and condensation.
- Radon and basementsWhy basements test higher, and what a sump costs.
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Questions we get asked
How much does a sump pump cost in Ireland?
€1,000 to €2,000 for a sump system in a basement.
How often should a sump pump be serviced?
Once a year, and after any flood. Test it yourself by pouring water into the chamber until the pump starts.
What happens if the power goes?
A pump with no back-up stops. A battery back-up pump or a second pump keeps the basement dry through a power cut.
Is a sump pump noisy?
You hear it run for a short time when it empties the chamber. A good installation has a sealed lid and a non-return valve, so it doesn't gurgle.
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