Do you know what a sump pump is? You might have heard of it, you might even be aware your home has one, but what does it actually do? The answer is that it keeps water from intruding into your home from the ground. This is a common problem for homes that are lying low with high groundwater levels. When it rains, water from the surrounding area could start pushing into your basement, causing flooding. Having a sump pump in your basement is an excellent solution to the problem. The sump pump sits in a trench beneath floor-level, and it is activated when the water level starts rising. It then pumps the water out and away from your home, preventing water damage in your basement. It is important that you have backup power for your sump pump, since violent storms can lead to power outages, and without power, your sump pump will not do any good.