Published March 31, 2026

Device that automatically pumps out excess water

Basement flood device: detects high water, auto-starts pump to drain via tube, then stops when level drops to minimum.

BeginnerWork in progress35

Device that automatically pumps out excess water

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino UNO

Seeed Studio Grove - Water Sensor

Seeed Studio 12V DC Water Pump

DFRobot Gravity: Digital 5A Relay Module

SparkFun Breadboard Power Supply 5V/3.3V

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

Story

It would be intended for basements having problems with high humidity or under the house waters. Having the water centralized in one hole this device would detect when the water reaches the top level, or the specified point and turn on the pump which will pump the water out via tube. The pump also automatically turns off when the water level reaches specified minimum point.

Code

arduino cpp

const int lowSensor = 2;
const int highSensor = 3;
const int pump = 8;

bool pumpState = false;

void setup() {
  pinMode(lowSensor, INPUT);
  pinMode(highSensor, INPUT);
  pinMode(pump, OUTPUT);

  digitalWrite(pump, LOW);

  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
  int lowLevel = digitalRead(lowSensor);
  int highLevel = digitalRead(highSensor);

  // Water reached high level -> turn pump ON
  if (highLevel == HIGH && !pumpState) {
    digitalWrite(pump, HIGH);
    pumpState = true;
    Serial.println("Pump ON");
  }

  // Water dropped to low level -> turn pump OFF
  if (lowLevel == LOW && pumpState) {
    digitalWrite(pump, LOW);
    pumpState = false;
    Serial.println("Pump OFF");
  }

  delay(500);
}