Plumbing Repairs and Maintenance – Don’t Forget about the Sump Pump

When it comes to plumbing repairs and maintenance, many people primarily focus on items like the dishwasher, shower, or the water heater, etc. because they use these items every day. If something goes wrong their dishwasher, for example, it isn’t long before dirty dishes pile up in the sink.

Sump pumps on the other hand, are not really in the forefront of people’s minds when they think about their plumbing. To most people, a sump pump is some mysterious device tucked away inside a hole somewhere in their basement or crawl space. Only when a family member discovers a flooded basement due to a malfunctioning sump pump does it come to the forefront.

Sump Pumps Are Important!

Sump pumps actually perform a very important job. They help to keep the structure of your home secure by pumping excess water away from your home’s foundation. During times of heavy rain or annual snow melt in the spring, it is essential that your sump pump is in good working order to prevent water from flooding your basement or crawl space.

In order to avoid a flooded basement from a non-functioning sump pump, it is a good idea to keep track of the age of your pump. Pumps do come with varying warranties, typically 1, 3 or 5 years in length. If you live in an area that receives a lot of rain or snow melt, you might want to consider getting a pump that has a 5-year warranty. If you know your pump is getting old, replace it before it fails.

Sump Pump Maintenance

With regard to maintenance of the pump, although it might be tempting to use your sump pump crock as a dumping ground for emptying water, one needs to be careful not to get excess debris into the crock. So if you are emptying a pail of water into the crock, make sure it is just water, not loaded with hair, dirt and particles of grime that could cause an issue with your pump.

Make sure that your sump crock has a cover placed on top. If you have pets in the home, it is important their toys do not get lodged within the crock. If you have young children, not only is it important they do not put unwanted items in the sump crock as well, it is also a potential safety hazard if a young child should fall into an uncovered crock. If you have a finished basement and want to protect your investment, you can have an additional sump pump installed. Battery backup sump pump units will pump out any water in the event your main pump fails or if the electrical power fails and your main pump subsequently cannot work.

If you have questions or concerns about your sump pump or want to talk about installing a battery backup sump pump unit, please contact us.