Test Your Sump Pump
Rain, Rain Go Away From My House
Heavy spring rains can lead to water problems in your basement. For homes with finished basements, significant losses due to flooding can occur.
Sump pumps work hard to move water away from the home’s foundation, ensuring that your home remains free of water damage from built-up groundwater or an abundance of rainwater.
How Often Should A Sump Pump Be Tested?
Sump pumps require regular testing. How often varies depending on how often the sump pump runs and the amount of particulate that is found in your ground water.
In most cases, sump pumps should be tested every three to four months.
- Check the inlet screen on the sump pump for particulate; clean the screen; and inspect for any worn electrical cords.
- Inspect the pit where the sump pump sits. You may need to adjust the height of the float if too much water is sitting in the pump pit.
- Inspect the discharge location to make sure the system is draining properly and the backflow valve is working correctly.
Do You Need A Back Up System?
Sump pumps are mechanical devices that will eventually fail. Most are also electrically powered and do us little good when our electricity goes out in the midst of a severe storm.
Sump pumps protect those important items we keep in our basements.
To protect yourself from significant loss if your sump pump fails, or stops working due to a power outage, backup sump pump systems are available. They come in different configurations and varying degrees of capability.
Battery backup sump pumps are a second sump pump that is placed in the pit with the primary unit. If the primary pump fails then the secondary pump kicks in. These units are easy to find and do not necessarily require a professional to install.
What to do if your sump pump is not working.
If you find that your sump pump is not working properly, it is important to have it repaired or replaced quickly. Not knowing when Mother Nature will strike again, you want to make sure your sump pump is ready when the skies darken and the rains start.
Give Brenneco Plumbing a call at 765-448-6190 if you need help replacing your sump pump or want to look into installing a back-up sump pump system. We’ll be happy to discuss your options.
