Sump Pump Maintenance

When a severe storm hits, homeowners may experience excess water in their basements or the lower levels of their home. A sump pump is an important tool that can help protect your property by controlling water and keeping your home dry.

Sump pumps are typically found in the lowest part of a house, such as a basement, and are usually installed by a professional in a specially constructed sump pit. The sump pump’s primary job is to pump water outside and away from the home. There are generally two types of sump pumps, pedestal and submersible.

How to Keep Your Sump Pump in Good Condition

Once installed, consider the following maintenance tips to help ensure your sump pump is ready when you need it.

• Check the pump at least once a year to make sure it is still in good working condition.
  • Is the sump pump plugged in?
  • Is the power cord in good shape?
  • Is the drain hose connected properly?
  • Is there any debris in the area that could clog the pump and prevent it from working properly?
  • Pour water into the sump pit to test if the sump pump starts up automatically and quickly drains the water.
• Since sump pumps run on electricity, consider installing a battery backup to help ensure yours will not fail, even in the event of a power outage. If you have installed a battery backup, during your test of the sump pump installation, unplug the pump to ensure that it will function properly on battery power.
• Contact a professional if your sump pump is not working properly.

Finally, consider obtaining optional coverage for water backup or sump discharge or overflow as most homeowners policies do not cover water in the basement.

Source: http://www.disastersafety.org/flood/using-sump-pumps/