A sump pump is a small pump that is meant to keep an area dry and prevent flooding. It collects water in a sump basin as the water enters through drains or by seeping in through the ground. When the basin fills up, the pump will direct the collected water away from the building to prevent the space from becoming wet or flooded.

Sump pumps are commonly used in basements to prevent flooding from heavy r

A sump pump installed in a basement of a home with a water powered backup system.

ain or groundwater. If your basement tends to flood, the best way to help mitigate the issue is by installing a sump pump. However, if you do install a sump pump, it’s important to also perform regular sump pump maintenance. Otherwise, your sump pump may encounter problems that make it ineffective in preventing flooding.

When providing maintenance for your sump pump, it is important to provide proper maintenance or you could cause it to malfunction or render it ineffective. Use the following information as a guide to make sure you avoid common sump pump maintenance mistakes.

Self-Installation

You shouldn’t install a sump pump yourself, especially if you haven’t installed one before. It’s better to hire a plumbing professional to install the sump pump and have it done properly than to install it yourself and risk improper installation and even potential damage. This will also ensure that your sump pump will be in effective working shape upon installation.

No Pump Testing

To ensure that your sump pump works properly, you should test it twice every year: once before spring starts and once before fall begins. These checkups will ensure that your sump pump is in good working condition before it is likely to be needed the most. If your sump pump is not working effectively, you will have time to resolve the issue before the summer or winter arrives.

To test your sump pump, slowly pour some water into the basin until the float switch has been triggered, thus activating the pump itself. The water level should drop slowly, and the pump should turn off when the float switch has sunk back down.

Lack of Backup Power

Sometimes, sump pumps are powered by a pressurized water system in the home. Usually, though, sump pumps are wired directly into your home’s electrical system, which is where the pump will get its power. Some sump pumps may have a back battery it can use to operate in case of a power outage. However, if your power goes out and there’s no other power source for your sump pump, then it won’t function. This can be especially problematic during strong storms that are powerful enough to knock the power out. Strong storms are also when you’ll need your sump pump the most. That said, it’s important to have some sort of backup power source, like a generator, for your sump pump.

Float Switch Problems

A sump pump’s float switch indicates to the sump pump motor when to start and stop pumping by detecting the water level in the basin. As such, the float switch needs enough space to freely float and sink to work correctly. If there’s an obstruction in the float switch’s way, then the sump pump cannot work correctly. In such a case, this can unnecessarily burn up the pump’s motor and, in turn, ruin your sump pump.

No Discharge Pipe Inspection

The discharge pipe allows water from the sump pump to be properly drained away from the building.  You must keep an eye on the discharge pipe and make sure it’s in good condition. Make sure the pipes are directing water away from your property at a safe distance and that they are tightly and correctly connected.

If you notice any damage to the pipes or find that they are clogged, get help right away. These problems can prevent efficient drainage.

Debris in the Pump

If any sort of debris gets sucked up into the pump, it can cause a problem with the sump pump system. That said, take the necessary measures to prevent debris from getting into your sump pump. It shouldn’t sit on small pieces of gravel or loose silt, which can be sucked up into the pump. If you want to have your sump pump sit on gravel, use larger-sized gravel or rocks that cannot enter the pump. Otherwise, placing your sump pump on a flat, stable brick surface works well.

If you have a sump pump, you need to take its maintenance seriously to ensure it can properly fulfill its purpose. No one wants to find out that their sump pump isn’t working correctly and has resulted in subsequent flood damage. With the aforementioned tips, you should be able to avoid making common sump pump maintenance mistakes.

In the event that your property does suffer from flood damage, then you need to seek help from a professional water damage restoration service right away. The longer water damage and excess water goes untreated, the more problems it will cause on your property. Professional water damage restorers will work to contain any damage and eliminate excess water immediately to prevent further damage to your home or business. They will also clean, disinfect, restore, and replace your property as needed.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.