Tag Archives: how to maintain my sump pump

Apr '24

Spring Cleaning for Your Sump Pump: Inspecting and Maintaining Your System

As the winter snow melts and the spring rains begin to fall, it’s important to ensure that your sump pump is in good working condition to protect your basement from flooding. Here we will cover the key steps and tips to keep your sump pump functioning optimally.

Why Spring Cleaning for Your Sump Pump is Essential

Spring is the ideal time to inspect and maintain your sump pump system for several reasons. The increased rainfall during this season can put your basement at a higher risk of flooding. By ensuring that your sump pump is in good condition, you can avoid costly water damage and prevent potential health hazards such as mold growth.

The Importance of Regular Inspections

An essential part of maintaining your sump pump system is conducting regular inspections. Here are a few reasons why regular inspections are important:

Identify and address any potential issues early on.
Ensure that all components are functioning correctly.
Prolong the lifespan of your sump pump.

Regular inspections will help you catch any problems before they escalate into significant issues, saving you time, money, and stress in the long run.

Step-by-Step Guide to Inspecting and Maintaining Your Sump Pump

Step 1: Safety First

Before you begin inspecting and maintaining your sump pump, it’s important to prioritize safety. Make sure to follow these safety guidelines:

Disconnect the sump pump from its power source to avoid accidental electrical shocks.
Wear protective gloves to avoid any potential bacteria or contaminants.

Step 2: Exterior Inspection

Start by performing an exterior inspection of your sump pump system. Here’s what you should check:

Inspect the discharge pipe for any clogs or obstructions.
Ensure that the pipe is securely connected and directed away from your foundation.
Check the vent hole on the discharge pipe for any blockages.

Step 3: Interior Inspection

Once you’ve completed the exterior inspection, move on to the interior inspection. Follow these steps:

Remove the sump pump cover to access the pit.
Inspect the pit for any debris or sediment buildup.
Check the float switch to ensure it moves freely and isn’t obstructed.
Verify that the check valve is working correctly and allowing water to flow in one direction.
Clean or replace the sump pump if necessary, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Step 4: Test the Sump Pump

After completing the inspections, it’s time to test your sump pump system. Here’s how:

Pour a bucket of water into the sump pit to activate the pump.
Observe the pump’s operation, ensuring that it starts promptly and efficiently removes the water.
Listen for any unusual noises or vibrations that may indicate a problem.

Step 5: Consider a Backup Sump Pump System

To provide additional protection against basement flooding, consider installing a backup sump pump system. These systems are designed to support your primary pump in case of power outages or mechanical failures. Options include battery-powered pumps, water-powered pumps, or generator-powered pumps.

To provide additional protection against basement flooding, consider installing a backup sump pump system.

Tips for Maintaining Your Sump Pump System

While spring is an excellent time to thoroughly inspect your sump pump system, regular maintenance throughout the year will help keep it in optimal condition. Here are some additional tips:

Test your sump pump system every few months by pouring water into the pit.
Ensure that the float switch moves freely and isn’t obstructed.
Check the power cord and plug for any signs of damage.
Keep the pit clear of debris and sediment.
Consider installing a sump pump alarm to alert you in case of pump failure or high water levels.
Know the location of your main water shut-off valve in case of emergencies.
Follow the manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations.

Spring cleaning for your sump pump is an essential task to protect your basement from potential flooding. By following the steps outlined in this article and conducting regular inspections and maintenance, you can ensure that your sump pump system operates efficiently and effectively. Remember to prioritize safety, and if you encounter any issues beyond your expertise, don’t hesitate to contact a professional plumber for assistance. With proper care, your sump pump will continue to safeguard your home for years to come.

Feb '24

Expert Advice on Sump Pump Care for Chicagoland Residences

Understanding the Importance of Sump Pump Care in Chicagoland Residences

When it comes to maintaining and protecting your home, one crucial aspect that often gets overlooked is the care and maintenance of your sump pump. Chicagoland residences, in particular, face unique challenges due to the region’s climate and the potential for heavy rainfall and flooding. Here we will provide expert advice on sump pump care specifically tailored for homeowners in the Chicagoland area.

The Role of a Sump Pump

Before diving into sump pump care, it’s essential to understand the role this device plays in your home. A sump pump is installed in the basement or crawl space and serves as the last line of defense against water damage. It collects excess groundwater and directs it away from your home’s foundation, preventing flooding, mold growth, and structural damage.

The Effects of Improper Sump Pump Maintenance

Failure to perform regular maintenance on your sump pump can lead to several adverse consequences. If the pump malfunctions or becomes clogged, it may not operate efficiently or fail to work altogether when needed most. This can leave your basement vulnerable to water damage, causing expensive repairs and potential health hazards.

Additionally, neglecting sump pump care can significantly reduce its lifespan. Regular maintenance helps identify any issues early on, allowing for timely repairs or replacements, thus ensuring your sump pump remains reliable for years to come.

Expert Tips for Sump Pump Care

Now that we understand the significance of sump pump care, let’s explore some expert tips to help maintain its functionality and extend its lifespan:

Regular Inspections

Perform routine inspections of your sump pump to ensure it is free from debris, obstructions, or signs of wear and tear. Check the power cord for any damage and ensure it is securely connected.

Test the Pump

Regularly test your sump pump to ensure it is in working condition. Pour a bucket of water into the pit to activate the pump and observe its functioning. If it doesn’t start or operates erratically, it may require professional attention.

Clean the Pit

Periodically clean the sump pump pit to remove any dirt, debris, or sediment that could hinder its performance. A clean pit prevents clogs and ensures smooth water flow.

Check the Check Valve

The check valve helps prevent water from flowing back into the sump pit after being expelled. Inspect the valve regularly to ensure it is functioning correctly and replace it if necessary.

Battery Backup

Consider installing a battery backup sump pump, especially in areas prone to power outages. This ensures that your pump will continue to operate even during electrical disruptions.

Maintain Proper Discharge

Ensure that the water discharged by your sump pump flows away from your home’s foundation. It should be directed at least 10 feet away to prevent it from seeping back into the basement.

Keep the Drainage System Clear

Regularly inspect and clear any blockages in your home’s exterior drainage system. This includes gutters, downspouts, and underground drainage pipes. Clearing these pathways ensures that water can efficiently flow away from your property.

Consider a Backup Pump

In addition to a battery backup, you may also want to consider installing a second pump as a backup. This provides an extra layer of protection against flooding, allowing one pump to handle smaller issues while the other takes care of more severe situations.

Proper care and maintenance help extend the lifespan of your sump pump, ensuring it serves you well for many years without the need for premature replacements.

Benefits of Regular Sump Pump Care

By following these expert tips for sump pump care, you can enjoy several benefits:

Enhanced Peace of Mind

Knowing that your sump pump is well-maintained and functioning optimally provides peace of mind, especially during heavy rainfall or storms.

Prevents Costly Water Damage

Regular maintenance significantly reduces the risk of water damage to your home’s foundation, basement, and belongings. This can save you from costly repairs and potential insurance claims.

Longevity of Your Sump Pump

Proper care and maintenance help extend the lifespan of your sump pump, ensuring it serves you well for many years without the need for premature replacements.

Health and Safety

Preventing water damage and mold growth in your basement contributes to a healthier living environment for you and your family. It helps mitigate the risk of respiratory issues and allergies caused by mold and mildew.

Summing it Up

As a homeowner in the Chicagoland area, taking care of your sump pump is vital to protect your investment and maintain a safe living environment. Regular inspections, testing, and maintenance, coupled with precautions such as battery backups and proper discharge, ensure that your sump pump remains reliable when you need it the most. By implementing these expert tips, you can safeguard your home from water damage and enjoy greater peace of mind.

Jul '23

The Expert Guide: Proven Techniques for Preventing Sump Pump Failures

Sump pumps systems serve as reliable protection against basement flooding in your home. Sump pumps stand as the last line of defense in a home’s flood protection systems. If floodwaters somehow make it past the home’s other flood defenses and into the basement, the sump pump will remove the water.

The best thing about sump pumps is they do their work without supervision. The float helps the sump pump detect the presence of water inside the sump pit. It will automatically switch on the motor to pump the water out and turn it off after the sump pit is emptied. This automatic feature is what makes sump pumps so effective.

But this feature is also why a sump pump may fail without notifying you. Because the sump pump runs itself, you will typically assume it will take care of any flooding that happens during a storm. If the sump pump has failed, you will have no way of knowing. What often happens is you will wake up to a flood in your basement.

As Dawson Property Management team says sump pump that fails in this manner defeats the entire purpose of having a sump in your home. But thankfully, there are steps you can take to make sure this never happens to your home. In this post, we cover the different things you can do to keep your sump pump from failing and how you can keep your home safe even when your sump pump fails.

Techniques for preventing sump pump failure

These tips are divided into two categories; preventative steps that rely on proper maintenance and preventative steps that rely on a backup system. Both of these strategies are necessary because they complement one another.

Part one: Prevent sump pump failure with proper maintenance

The way to prevent sump pump failure is by regular inspection and proper maintenance of the system. Since sump pump failures happen without warning, scheduled inspection and testing can help to uncover hidden problems. Below are the common issues to look for when inspecting and maintaining your sump pump.

Stuck float

If there is a lot of water or debris inside the pit, the float switch can get stuck. Depending on whether the pump is off or on when this happens, the motor will either not power on at all or it will run continuously. To prevent this problem, keep the pit clean and keep the float clear of all potential obstructions.

The sump pump loses power

This mostly happens as a result of power outages, faulty wiring or human carelessness. Checking the sump pump regularly is the only way to detect electrical problems. Later in this post, we discuss steps you can take to keep your home safe during a power outage.

Faulty check valve

The check valve ensures that discharged water does not re-enter the sump pit. If this happens, your sump pump motor will overwork and burn. A bad check valve will make strange noises which can be detected during inspection. If it is damaged, the check valve should be replaced at once.

Clogged discharged line

The sump pump will be unable to pump water to the discharge point if the discharge line is clogged. Things that may clog the discharge pipe are debris and rodents. Installing a mesh on the end of the discharge line and cleaning the sump pit will help to prevent this problem.

Clogged sump pump

Sump pits accumulate a lot of debris because surface runoff often picks up a lot of dirt before it enters the sump pit. This debris can get into the sump pump and keep it from working. To protect your sump pump, install a cover over the pit, and clean it regularly.

Install an alarm

A sump pump failure alarm will alert you if the water inside your sump pit gets too high. If, despite your best efforts, any of the above problems happen, this early-warning system will save you.

Part two: Prevent sump pump failure with a backup system

A backup system adds a second layer of protection to your primary sump pump. There are two types of backup systems.

Redundant sump pump

You can install a secondary sump pump. The likelihood of the two sump pumps failing at the same time is very low. With this system, your home is protected even when your primary sump pump fails. The only limitation with this option is both sump pumps will fail if your home suffers a power outage.

Battery-powered sump pump

This is a secondary sump pump system that runs on battery power. It will power up if the electricity supply to your home is interrupted. If the power goes out during a storm, your home will be safe from flooding.

Finally, at least once a year, you should get a local plumber to do a thorough inspection of your sump pump system. Experts can detect budding issues that you are not aware of, make repairs on your sump pump, and also give you advice that will save you a lot of money.

Nov '22

7 Essential Sump Pump Maintenance Tips

A sump pump is a vital piece of equipment in your home if runoff from rain or snowmelt sometimes finds its way into the basement or crawlspace. A sump pump protects your house by preventing flooding inside the basement. Sump pumps are also necessary if your home has drainage issues or a faulty foundation that lets water into the basement or crawlspace.

Sump pumps are designed to work without help from their owner. When it detects water, the pump automatically powers up and switches off when it has been pumped out. But because the sump pumps may sit idle for months – especially during the drier periods of the year – it is easy for your pump to malfunction without you knowing it, warns Real Property Group.

This is why it is essential to maintain your sump pump and have it in good condition before the rains begin or winter arrives. The last thing you want is for your basement or crawlspace to get flooded simply because your sump pump failed when you needed it most. What are the essential tips you need to maintain a sump pump? Read on to find the answer.

7 essential tips for maintaining your sump pump

Make sure you have a good basin

Because sump pumps handle dirty water, it is easy for them to get logged. Exposure to excessive dirt shortens the life of your sump pump. This is why you should only install a sump pump with a basin. Make sure the sump pump is housed in a suitable basin. The basin helps to keep mud, sludge, and debris out of the pump. This protects the pump, helps it last longer, and ensures good performance throughout its lifetime.

Install and maintain the check valve

A check valve keeps water from flowing backward in the outlet pipes, back into the basin, and onwards to the sump pump. Without a check valve, your sump pump will cycle continuously, working continuously without actually removing water from the basin. If you already have a check valve installed, you should inspect it every 3-4 months.

Battery backup system

It is common for the power to get cut off during thunderstorms or a flood. This is usually when you need your sump pump most. But with the power cut-off, you are denied the benefit of a sump pump even when you have one installed. A battery backup sump pump installation allows you to switch your sump pump from AC to DC and keep it running during a blackout.

Install an alarm system

Sump pump failures are often only detected when you need the sump pump and, it fails to work. You need a warning system to ensure the sump pump functions correctly and leaves you without a safeguard against basement flooding. There are different warning systems in the market, and they are helpful because they will alert you when your sump pump stops working.

Inspect and maintain the sump pump on a schedule

It is essential to maintain your sump pump at least twice every year. This usually means dismantling the pump components and cleaning them. Unless the sump pump has stopped working, you can do this yourself.

To clean the sump pump, disconnect the power, take the pump out of the basin, clean the exterior of the pump, along with the inlet screen and check the valve. If necessary, oil or grease the pump bearings before returning them to the pit and reconnecting the power.

Install a relief hole to prevent air locking

Air locking is familiar with bottom intake pumps. This is when air is trapped inside the pump, preventing water from going through it. An air-locked sump pump will not pump water out of the basin even when the motor runs.

A blockage causes air locking in the relief hole of the impeller casing; you can solve the problem by cleaning the spot. A permanent way to deal with this issue is to install a relief hole in the discharge piping above the impeller casing and below the check valve.

Test your sump pump periodically

As already stated, there is only one way to tell if your sump pump has stopped working once it fails to come on during a flood. You should test your sump pump often to ensure you aren’t in this unfortunate situation.

Testing a sump pump is easy. These are the steps; fill a five-gallon bucket with water and pour the water into the sump pit slowly. This should raise the float switch until the pump comes on. Listen for strange noises when the pump is running and wait to see if it goes off after emptying the pit. Even if an alarm system is installed, you must test your sump pump periodically.

They may not get much attention, but sump pumps do a lot to keep your home safe. They aren’t as expensive as a furnace or as frequently used as a fridge, but they’re still crucial to your home’s safety and comfort level when preventing water damage. Therefore, the sump pump needs to be checked as part of your standard house maintenance.