Common Sump Pump Maintenance Mistakes You Must Avoid
A sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More is a small pump that is meant to keep an area dry and prevent floodingFlooding is the overflow or accumulation of water in areas t... More. 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 floodingFlooding is the overflow or accumulation of water in areas t... More from heavy r
A sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More installed in a basement of a home with a water powered backup system.
ain or groundwaterGroundwater is water that exists beneath the earth’s surfa... More. If your basement tends to flood, the best way to help mitigateTo mitigate is to reduce or limit the severity of damage, ri... More the issue is by installing a sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More. However, if you do install a sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More, it’s important to also perform regular sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More maintenanceMaintenance is the routine care, inspection, and repair of a... More. Otherwise, your sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More may encounter problems that make it ineffective in preventing floodingFlooding is the overflow or accumulation of water in areas t... More.
When providing maintenanceMaintenance is the routine care, inspection, and repair of a... More for your sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More, it is important to provide proper maintenanceMaintenance is the routine care, inspection, and repair of a... More 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 pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More maintenanceMaintenance is the routine care, inspection, and repair of a... More mistakes.
Self-Installation
You shouldn’t install a sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More yourself, especially if you haven’t installed one before. It’s better to hire a plumbing professional to install the sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More 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 pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More will be in effective working shape upon installation.
No Pump Testing
To ensure that your sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More 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 pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More is in good working condition before it is likely to be needed the most. If your sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More is not working effectively, you will have time to resolve the issue before the summer or winter arrives.
To test your sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More, 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 pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More, 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 pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More the most. That said, it’s important to have some sort of backup power source, like a generator, for your sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More.
Float Switch Problems
A sump pump’s float switch indicates to the sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More 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 pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More cannot work correctly. In such a case, this can unnecessarily burn up the pump’s motor and, in turn, ruin your sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More.
No Discharge Pipe InspectionInspection is the careful examination and assessment of a pr... More
The discharge pipe allows water from the sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More 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 pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More system. That said, take the necessary measures to prevent debris from getting into your sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More. 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 pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More sit on gravel, use larger-sized gravel or rocks that cannot enter the pump. Otherwise, placing your sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More on a flat, stable brick surface works well.
If you have a sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More, you need to take its maintenanceMaintenance is the routine care, inspection, and repair of a... More seriously to ensure it can properly fulfill its purpose. No one wants to find out that their sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More isn’t working correctly and has resulted in subsequent flood damage. With the aforementioned tips, you should be able to avoid making common sump pumpA sump pump is a pump installed in a basement or crawlspace ... More maintenanceMaintenance is the routine care, inspection, and repair of a... More 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 restorationRestoration is the process of returning a property to its pr... More, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like floodingFlooding is the overflow or accumulation of water in areas t... More, water damage, fire and smoke damage, moldMold is a type of fungus that grows in damp or humid conditi... More 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 restorationRestoration is the process of returning a property to its pr... More providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restorationRestoration is the process of returning a property to its pr... More to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like floodingFlooding is the overflow or accumulation of water in areas t... More, fire, smoke, and moldMold is a type of fungus that grows in damp or humid conditi... More 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.
