Having a basement or crawlspace in your home has numerous benefits. However, your basement may be prone to flooding or wetness. Natural water can migrate from the soil into your basement, or water may flood your basement from the drain.
Studies from the American society of home inspectors show that over 60% of properties experience moisture in their basements. A wet basement has several setbacks. It may:
- Affect the property’s structural integrity
- Cause pest infestation
- Support the growth of mold
- Cause health hazards
- Render the property unfit for habitation
But that should not stop you from owning a property that has a basement. That is because sump pumps help prevent your basement from flooding. They send water from your basement into a dry well, municipal storm drain, or other places where it wouldn’t harm your property.
The sump pump may have a pressure sensor or float activator arm if it is automatic. In that case, it will turn on automatically to evacuate water from your basement. If situations demand, you can activate the automatic sump pump manually.
Sump pumps require regular cleaning and maintenance because of their benefits. We recommend that you clean your sump pump and sump pit at least once a year. Remove the sump pump and wash it. Use that opportunity to inspect your sump pit for debris and water. Clear the check valve and conduct other regular sump pump maintenance.
If you are wondering how to clean your sump pump, follow the tips below.
Things you will need for sump pump cleaning
You will need specific tools that will aid in cleaning your sub pump. They include:
- A garden hose
- A wet/dry rag
- A tarp or plastic sheeting
- A large bucket
- A plastic scraper
- Protective gloves
Precautions
Below are certain precautions you should take before cleaning the sump pump:
- Ensure that it is not raining when you are performing the cleaning.
- Water should not be flowing into the sump basin from appliances connected to it.
- Wear protective gloves during the cleaning.
Steps on cleaning the sump pump
Disconnect and unplug the sump pump
Before cleaning the sump pump, you need to unplug it and turn off the power supply on the circuit breaker. Also, disconnect the sump pump from the discharge pipe. Sometimes, you may use a screwdriver to loosen the sleeve and pull it from the pipe.
Remove the pump from the basin
After disconnecting the sump pump, allow it to drain into the pit. When it is no longer dripping, put it into a bucket or cover it with a plastic tarp or sheeting to prevent spills and take it outside for the cleaning.
Clean the sump pump
With the help of a garden hose, rinse off the dirt from the sump pump. Inspect for grime and use a plastic scraper to scrape off the dirt. Clean the outer surface of the pump using a rag. Spray water on the pump again with a garden hose and leave it to dry.
Drain the check valve
Disassemble the check valve, rinse, dry, and reassemble it. Ensure that your bucket is nearby when draining the check valve.
Drain the sump pit
If there is any standing water in your sump pit, drain it. You can do this with a bucket or wet-dry vacuum. Clean the basin and remove any gravel, stone, or dirt. Doing this will prevent the risk of sump pump clogging or failure.
Clean the grate
It is essential to clean the grate if you have it in your sump pit. Remove the grate from the sump pump basin. Rinse it using a garden hose and wipe it off with a rag.
Clean the sump pump basin
With the help of a scraper and rag, clean the walls of your sump pump basin. Remove all dirt and grime. Ensure that nothing is clogging the drain holes. When your sump pump pit is clean, you will not notice any terrible smell.
Replace the sump pump
After cleaning and drying the sump pump, you can put it back. Ensure that the pump is at the appropriate level and position to enable its function. Check to ensure that the float arm can move freely without touching the basin walls.
Reconnect the pump
Reconnect your sump pump to the discharge pipe and tighten the sleeve. Ensure that there will be no leakage. However, avoid over-tightening it. Plug it back into the power supply and turn on the breaker.
Test the pump
This step is necessary to ensure that everything is functional after the cleaning. To do this, pour water into the basin until the sump pump activates. Inspect the sump pump as it is running to see if there is any fault.
The bottom line
Your sump pump also requires regular monthly maintenance aside from the annual cleaning. The monthly inspection and maintenance will ensure that your pump is functional whenever the need arises. If your pump fails, invite experts to assess and advise accordingly.