You may be running around like a headless chicken tonight trying to get your sump pump fixed, but what if you just replaced it last year? It’s important to keep an eye on the condition of these devices over time and make sure they are performing at their highest capacity.
What Is The Purpose Of A Sump Pump?
Your sump pump, which is often positioned in your basement, is your first line of defense against floods or a high water table. A sump pump can also be used outdoors to drain a flooded backyard.
Your sump pump automatically activates when there is a lot of rain or snow melting quickly, and it pumps water away from your house several feet from the foundation.
How To Keep Your Sump Pump In Good Working Order
Most homeowners are unaware of the importance of their sump pump until they are ankle-deep in water in their basement. When heavy rain is expected for Maryland, Virginia, and Philadelphia, simple preventive maintenance may guarantee that your sump pump is in excellent operating condition and ready to keep your house safe.
Here are some things you can do to keep your sump pump in good working order:
- Check to see whether the pump’s circuit has electricity. A GFCI electrical connection is required for all sump pumps. It is critical to ensure that the connection is functional in order to keep a sump pump running.
- Make sure the sump pump is standing straight and not sagging. A sump pump might tilt as a result of vibrations.
- To prevent debris from clogging the system, remove the submersible pump from the pit and clean the grate at the bottom.
- Remove anything that might be obstructing the sump pump’s output pipes, which disburse the water to the outside.
- Make sure the water from the pump is draining at least 20 feet away from your foundation using the external pipes.
- Examine your discharge pipe for any debris that might clog it.
- To ensure that the pump is working correctly, do a manual test.
- To make the sump pit run automatically, pour around five liters of water into it.
- Make sure the water is flowing out of your house and in the appropriate direction by inspecting the external pipe.
What Should You Do If Your Sump Pump Fails?
Here are some popular remedies to attempt if your sump pump isn’t performing its job:
- Look for anything that might be restricting the pump’s suction intake. The sucking motion might drag junk into the pump, causing it to break down.
- Check for oil in the sump well, which might indicate a faulty pump seal.
- The sump pump should be as silent as possible. Keep an ear out for clunking or other unusual sounds that might signal a problem.
- Check that the float on the sump pump may move freely if it employs a float as a trigger.
- Check the circuit breaker for a blown fuse that may have cut off the pump’s power.
- You may have installed a sump pump that is too small for the purpose if it is always operating.
- Do you have a blocked or frozen discharge line? A sump pump system may fail as a result of several circumstances.
It’s critical to make sure your sump pump is up to the task of safeguarding your property. Plumbing specialists are certified to inspect, repair, and diagnose issues with your sump pump so that you may avoid significant flooding damage to your property.
Is It Necessary For Me To Have A Backup Sump Pump System?
The majority of sump pumps incorporate a battery-powered alarm that sounds when water is backing up and the pump mechanism is malfunctioning. Some may even be programmed to contact your mobile phone or inform your alarm provider.
For times when the power is out, some sump pump systems include a battery backup system. A plumber can inspect and repair your sump pump as well as provide a backup system to ensure that your sump pump does not fail.
Battery or water-powered backup systems are the two options for sump pumps. When the power goes out, the massive battery-backup system kicks in to keep the water pouring out of your house.
A water-powered sump pump backup system uses your home’s water supply to ensure that there is no sump pump failure in the event of a power outage.
A sump pump will get water to your street and away from your home or basement. However, the sewer line could be clogged. Find out about this in Top 4 Reasons For Sewer Line Clogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal for a sump pump to smell?
A: No, unless it has come in contact with sewage or contaminated water.
Is it normal for a sump pump to smoke?
A: No. Sump pumps do not naturally produce smoke when the pump is working properly.
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