Sump pumps are a great way to reduce the potential risk of flooding inside your basement. Potential risks such as water leaking through cracks in your foundation from excessive rain or snow are eliminated by a sump pump.
Here are some tips to help you maintain your sump pump to ensure it stays in good working order:
How are sump pumps installed?
A sump pump is typically placed in the lowest part of your basement and it works by moving water away from your home. There is a pit under the pump to collect any water, and when the water meets a certain height, the pump will turn on and begin pumping the water out and away from your home. Most are powered by electricity and will automatically turn on when the water level has met the threshold. When installing a sump pump, the location where the water is pumped to needs to be chosen strategically so that water does not make its way back to your foundation.
Sump Pump Maintenance
Like anything else in your home, checking to make sure your sump pump is working properly is really the only way to ensure it will work when you need it to. The best time to inspect a sump pump is in the Spring after all snow has melted. You can do a quick check up by simply removing any mud or debris you may find to ensure water can flow through it.
The easiest way to make sure your pump is working how it should, is to pour a bucket of water into the pit. If the pump turns on to flush the water out, you can rest assured that everything is in order. If you notice that the pump or the pit has a slick or oily sheen to it, this could indicate an issue with the motor. We recommend hiring a professional in this case and not moving forward with any other inspection until power is disconnected to the pump.
What to Do When Your Sump Pump Fails
If you pour water into the pump and it does not turn on, there may be a few reasons why. The most common reason for a pump to not be working properly is that there has been a power outage and you do not have a battery to back up the pump.
Another typical problem is that the float that initiates the pump is stuck or not working properly. By turning off the electricity and locating the float, you can resolve this problem. The third most common reason for a sump pump failing is a clog. If when you pour water into the pump and it does not drain out but you can feel vibration of the pump, this is a likely indicator that something is stuck.
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