Sump Pump Maintenance

Surface water as a result of spring melt.

Spring is here, and with spring comes a high water table. A sump pump is a hero in the spring, and any time the water table is high. A well-designed setup will funnel water to the sump hole. The sump pump will pump that water out once it reaches a certain level and away from the house.

Sump pumps will often run for years without a second thought. However, regular maintenance is recommended to both extend their life and avoid surprises. I have listed a few maintenance tasks below that you can perform as the homeowner.

Homeowner maintenance tasks:
1. Make sure your sump pump is plugged in. If the outlet is a GFCI, make sure that it is functioning properly and not tripped. While you are checking that, look at the condition of the cord and make sure that it is not damaged.

2. Check the condition of the sump pit. It should be clear of any debris or foreign material. Make sure you clear any foreign debris or material. Now I know that I just said to make sure that your sump pump is plugged in, but unplug it and make sure the inlet screen ON the pump is clear as well. A soft bristled brush can be used to clean it if needed. Plug the pump back in. If the sump is not running regularly, you should cycle the pump by adding water to the sump hole. You need to add enough so the sump pump cycles on and pumps out the water. Keep an eye on it to make sure that it turns on, drains the water, and shuts back off.

3. Go outside and check the end of the discharge pipe. You should see evidence of water from the pump cycling you just did. Make sure the end of the pipe is not blocked with any ice, leaves, or other debris. If there is no water, there could be a blockage along the line. Might be time to give us a call.

If you have any concerns with your sump pump system after you’ve done this maintenance, or if you would prefer someone else handle the maintenance, give us a call. We’d be happy to help.
A final note - when you are relying on a sump system to keep the basement dry, a power outage can be stressful. There are backup systems available which use a separate pump powered by a 12v battery to keep the system functioning. If you have one, we can test these systems as well.