![\"sump-pump\"](\"https:\/\/www.redrockmechanical.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/sump-pump-300x200.jpg\")
Do you have a sump pump installed in your home\u2019s basement? We recommend most homes in the area have one, since it\u2019s the best plan to prevent damage from flooding due to weather or a burst pipe. A sump pump activates automatically to remove the excess water from the lowest part of a house and transport it out to the wastewater system, a well, or an outside drainage ditch leading to the storm drains.<\/p>\n
You already have a sump pump? That\u2019s great. But do you know if you can depend on it to come on and work in case of flooding? A back-up emergency system isn\u2019t much good if it won\u2019t work when it\u2019s supposed to. This is why you always test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors\u2014and it\u2019s why you should check your sump pump in spring and have it maintained.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not difficult to see if your sump pump is working to detect water, activate, and then properly remove the water from the sump (the actual pit). We\u2019ll take you through the steps, and then you\u2019ll know if you\u2019ve got a sump pump that\u2019s ready to go\u2014or if you\u2019ll need to have a plumber repair it.<\/p>\n
First<\/strong>, check the sump itself and clean it out. You don\u2019t want any debris in the sump, since it could potentially clog up the pipes and intakes of the pump. The sump may have a cover over it that you\u2019ll have to remove to make the checks.<\/p>\n Second<\/strong>, turn on the pump to make sure the motor is running. You don\u2019t want to run it for long this way\u2014just enough to know the motor works\u2014because sump pumps aren\u2019t designed to operate without water moving through them.<\/p>\n Third<\/strong>, take a large bucket filled with water and pour it down into the sump. Watch to see if the float connected to the lever arm rises with the water level. As the float rises, this should cause the pump to turn on. Stop pouring the water and watch to see if the pump empties out the water and then shuts itself off, completing the cycle. If it does, replace the sump lid\u2014it appears you\u2019ve got a working sump pump!<\/p>\n If something goes wrong with any of these steps, don\u2019t attempt to DIY-fix the trouble. You\u2019ll need to have a professional plumber see to it. If the sump pump is more than ten years old, we recommend you look into getting a new one. For a sump pump that have to rely on direct electrical power, it\u2019s a good idea to have the unit replaced with one that has a battery back-up. That way you won\u2019t have the sump pump shut down in case of a power outage\u2014something that\u2019s common during major storms.<\/p>\n If you have a broken sump pump, don\u2019t hesitate to call a professional plumber in Burlington, VT<\/a> to solve the problem. You want to be sure you can depend on your sump pump in the case of flooding or a major plumbing accident.<\/p>\nYou May Need Repairs<\/h2>\n