Sump Pump Maintenance

6/15/2020 (Permalink)

Sump pump and well in basement of home.

If you have a sump pump in your Sioux Falls area home, you may often find yourself not thinking about it unless something goes wrong with it. To avoid potential sump pump disasters, it is important to perform regular maintenance on your pump.

Sump pumps are typically installed at the lowest point of your home. Sump pumps are used to pump water out of your home when water levels reach your foundation. A properly functioning sump pump will kick on when water levels get too high, sending water out to help keep your basement dry. The typical sump pump runs on electricity, but if you live in an area prone to violent storms that can cause power outages you may want to consider purchasing a battery back up-operated sump pump or a water pressure-activated sump pump. The middle of a storm is a terrible time for you to discover your sump pump has failed.

Performing a full maintenance check on your sump pump system is a pretty simple process that can potentially help you avoid a costly water loss.

• Before adjusting or moving sump pump, disconnect the sump pump from its electricity source.
• Remove the pump from the well and check the intake grate for any rocks or debris that could have been pulled in.
• Clear well of any debris.
• Put sump pump back in to place and reconnect to power source.
• Fill a 5 gallon bucket with water and pour in to the sump well to make sure the system kicks on and is operating as should.
• Outside your home, check the condition of the pump discharge pipe, making sure it is free of blockage and debris.

If your sump pump appears to not be operating as intended, do not hesitate to call a professional to assess your system.

Should you encounter a sump pump failure in your home or business, SERVPRO of Sioux Falls is standing by 24/7 to help make it “Like it never even happened.”