Do I Need a Sump Hole in My New Home?

Ask Your Neighbors

• Strike up a conversation with some of your neighbors. Ask them if they have basements and if flooding has ever been an issue. Just because they haven't had a problem with flooding doesn't mean you won't either, but knowing whether houses around yours have faced water problems and what solutions have been found for them can help you get on the right path. Don't speak only with neighbors on either side of you; contact people living behind and in front of you as well, as underground streams can run in varying patterns in your area.

Assess Your Basement

• Look at your basement. Some indications that the previous owner faced or at least was concerned with flooding include raised hot water heaters, and washing machines and dryers on pedestals. Check the basement floor for drains and the walls for water stains or water lines a few inches up from the floor. If it looks as though the last owner learned to live with occasional flooding, and you don't want to, a sump pump might be the answer.

Examine Your Property

• Properties containing large amounts of cement and concrete, and few trees or shrubs, are more prone to flooding that those with thick vegetation. Clean out your gutters and leaders, and make sure they are functioning properly, with spouts whisking water away from your foundation, to cut down on the risk of flooding.

Call in the Experts

• If you are intending to finish your basement and want to make absolutely sure that flooding will not be an issue, you have a couple of options. The first is that you just make the investment now and install a sump pump. You may not need it, and it may never run, but it is there if the worst happens. The other solution is to call a surveyor or well-digging company. They will be able to assess exactly where the water table is and how likely you are to face flooding.