Sump pumps are a necessary part of any home that has a crawlspace or basement. The higher the water table is in your area, the more important that sump pump is. The sump pump basin is a vital part of the entire pump system. Without it, your pump can quickly clog with mud and fail. When installed properly, the sump pump basin will keep your pump working, and your below ground crawlspace or basement dry and protected.

As water saturates the ground, it begins looking for the easiest path to follow. That path is often the one that goes into a large, open area. The problem occurs when that large, open area is in your basement or crawlspace. The pump is designed to move the water out of your house or foundation, and it cannot function effectively without the sump pump basin.

These appliances are not designed to run continuously. They are designed to turn on and off with rising and falling water levels. They are designed to turn on only when there are several inches of water at the base of the pump. If your pump is left in a large open space, it will not turn on until the water has reached that level on the pump. Obviously, the larger the open space that the pump is sitting in, the more water that will collect before the pump turns on. Using the basin places the pump into a smaller open area.

Water will always follow the path of least resistance. The basin is placed so most of the basin will sit below the dirt in your crawlspace, or situated under the concrete floor of your basement. The water coming in under your house is looking for an open area to freely go into; the basin becomes that open area. Any water entering the ground under your basement will be diverted to the basin using French drains and gravel channels. As the water collects in the basin, it will quickly rise to the level needed for the pump to begin operating.

A good sump pump basin is typically constructed of high quality plastic. There is usually a removable lid that serves to keep the area inside the pump clean. The lid also contains odors and prevents small children or pets from getting into the sump pump. The lid and basin will have areas that can be cut out to allow for the pipes that will go in and out of the basin.