Tune up your sump pump before the spring thaw

3/6/2018 (Permalink)

Get in the habit of regularly taking on a few maintenance steps to make sure your pump is functioning properly.

Mother nature keeps teasing us that spring is on its way. As we get excited for spring flowers, sunny days and the return of cheerful chirping birds, we must remember one important word. THAW.

As the days begin to warm up and the threat of snowfall turns to spring showers our homes face a new source of stress from snowmelt, heavy precipitation, groundwater and even flooding. So, it’s a great relief to know we have a heavy hitter in our corner. That’s where your sump pump comes in.

The additional ground water flows into a shallow pit called a basin by a network of tubes and drain systems. Once that basin fills to a certain level your pump is triggered by a float. The sump pump then pushes the water out and away from your home through a discharge pipe.

All this happens IF your sump pump is functioning properly. So, how do you make sure that it remains functional? Get in the habit of regularly taking on a few maintenance steps.

Check the Power Source

Is the pump properly plugged into to the electrical system? Is there a battery back-up in case of losing power? Is the cord in good shape?

Make sure the pump is in place

Check to make sure the pump is level and the float is positioned correctly.

Clean the sump pump and surrounding area

Lots of sand and gravel can enter your basin through the flowing water. It is best to check frequently for sediment at the bottle of the basin and to run clean water through your pump to make sure none of that debris becomes lodged in the pump system.

Test your pump regularly

As recommended above, run clean water through your pump regularly to make sure it is running correctly as the basin fills.

Look for leaks

Check pipes, connections and valves for any leakages.

Have a professional service your system yearly

We recommend that you have a professional inspect your sump pump year, preferably before snowmelt, rainfall and other spring hazards. A professional should dismount your pump, flush the pump, test the electrical and backup systems and repair any leaky connections and fine tune your pump’s motor.

If you have any other questions drop us a line day or night through our Contact Us page. Our team is always ready to share our knowledge and passion with others!