As a predominantly desert state, Nevada is known for its arid climate. Although many Nevada cities see limited precipitation, some towns and neighborhoods are below the flood line. These locations experience flash flooding during the monsoon season, especially when nearby drain tunnels develop blockages. If you live in Henderson, NV or the Greater Las Vegas area, your home might need a sump pump.
Signs You Need a Sump Pump
According to official flood maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), both Las Vegas and Henderson are flood-prone. They join Primm, Lyon County, Reno, and Carson Valley on these maps, but have varying levels of flood risk. Not every home in Henderson or Las Vegas will take water in when monsoon season arrives. To know if your home needs a sump pump for flood protection, consider these risk factors.
Crawlspaces, Basements, and Other Low-Lying Areas
Crawlspaces provide easy access to utilities and enhance air circulation. If your home has crawlspaces or a basement, installing a sump pump might be a good idea. Even if your home rarely experiences flooding, a sump pump that successfully prevents water intrusion even once will pay for itself.
Rank, Musty Odors
Some local homes have basements and crawl spaces, but never experience floods. Key things to look for are pooling water, rank, and musty odors. These are strong indications that you need sump pump installation. If you don’t have a leaky water heater or a cracked sewer pipe, low-level flooding is the most likely cause.
Non-Permeable Soil
Nature has a way of preventing indoor flooding. With loose, permeable soil around your home, rainwater can easily soak into the ground. Once absorbed, this water will become part of the region’s groundwater supply and will eventually make its way to local taps. It will have virtually no impact on your home.
Properties with non-permeable soil or with low soil permeability should have sump pumps. Even with modest amounts of rain, clay and silt soils can leave standing pools of water around building foundations and pooling water in crawlspaces and basements. These areas are often referred to as having high water tables.
You Live at the Base of a Hill
Homes at the base of hills typically have high water tables. All the runoff from the properties and terrain above collects in these areas. Not only should you install a sump pump to protect your home, but you should also beef up your landscape drainage.
Your Home Insurance Company Could Require It
If your home is located on FEMA’s official flood maps, there’s a good chance that your home insurance company requires sump pump installation. This is all the more true if your home insurance policy includes flood insurance as a rider or endorsement.
Sump pumps greatly minimize the likelihood of flood insurance claims. When flooding is severe and filing a claim proves inevitable, having the right sump pump for your home will limit overall water damage.
You Purchased Pre-Existing Construction
If you purchased pre-existing construction and it has a sump pump, there’s probably a good reason why the former owner installed it. To keep your home protected, have your sump pump professionally inspected and maintained.
The average lifespan of a sump pump is seven to 10 years, but sump pumps often have shorter lifespans on properties with heavy clay soil or silt. Have a plumber assess the remaining lifespan of your pre-installed sump pump and replace it as needed.
Evidence Your Home Has Flooded Before
When purchasing pre-existing construction in any flood-prone Nevada neighborhood, be on the lookout for signs that the property has flooded before, including:
- Musty odors in low-lying areas
- Powdery coatings on concrete slabs
- Foundation cracks
- Warped floorboards or sub-floors
- Soil erosion
Repeated flooding can also visibly impact a property’s grading by washing runoff and soil towards the lowest-lying drainage point. If you purchased existing construction that has flooded before or if you intend to, you definitely need a sump pump.
Consult With a Plumber
The best way to assess your need for a sump pump is by consulting with a licensed plumber. For Nevada homes with high water tables and large basements or crawlspaces, it’s sometimes necessary to install both primary and backup sump pumps.
As a trusted, local plumbing company, Frontline Plumbing has proudly served Henderson and the Greater Las Vegas area for more than 30 years. We offer expert sump pump installation, maintenance, and repair services. To find out if your home needs a sump pump, get in touch with Frontline Plumbing now!
