How to Perform Appropriate Sump Pump Maintenance

A basement is the most vulnerable part of any home to flooding. Flooding occurs most often during heavy rains, but it can also occur during long days of hot weather, such as during the summer season. Basement flooding can occur for a variety of reasons, the most common of which is that the basement is underground. There is groundwater that can occasionally overflow and cause flooding, or the sewer system (which is also found below the surface) can become clogged and overflow into the basement due to clogs.

Because the causes of basement flooding are numerous, you must take the necessary precautions to keep your basement from flooding again. Installing a sump pump is the most effective way to prevent the water level in the basement from rising and flooding. It is not enough to simply leave a sump pump to do its job; you must also perform some maintenance or your sump pump will not function or have a short lifespan.

• Inspect the pit and remove any debris that is discovered.

The pit is where water will be directed in the basement if there is flooding or a water breakout. If the pit contains a lot of debris, it will have a hard time absorbing water or triggering the device’s float valve. It is critical that you clear the pit of any mud, rocks, pebbles, or other debris that could obstruct the pit. Because a sump pump pit isn’t very deep, you won’t have any trouble removing debris from it.

• Check to see if the pump is still operational.

A non-functional sump pump in your basement serves no purpose because it cannot absorb water and disperse it outside your home. With this in mind, one of the most important maintenance tasks is to check to see if the sump pump is still operational. Pour water into the pit carefully; if the sump pump is working properly, the pumping process should begin. Check to see if the device is plugged in. If you’ve waited a long time and it’s still not pumping, there could be a problem with the check valve or the float switch. Have it checked as soon as possible to get your sump pump back up and running.

• Ensuring that there are no obstructions in the discharge line

The discharge line is an additional component of the sump pump because it distributes the water absorbed by the sump pump. If the discharge line stops working, the accumulated water will have nowhere to go, rendering your sump pump ineffective. Inspect the discharge line to see if it can still flush water. A discharge line may fail for one of two reasons: something may be blocking the line’s outlet or the line may have completely frozen. If there are any obstructions in the line, unclog the air vent hole. If you have a frozen discharge line, you can either insulate it or cover it with a tarp.