The humble sump pump – odds are, you never think about it, that is unless it stops working. Then it becomes the most important thing on your mind. You probably know that a sump pump’s primary job is to keep your basement water-free. They’re typically submerged in a shallow well – called a sump basin – in the lowest spot of the area. As the outside groundwater seeps downward through drains or by natural flow, it’s directed to the crock. When the water rises to a certain level, a float switch triggers the sump pump to activate, pumping the water through drains away from the house, leaving you with a dry, livable area.