A sump pump is there to protect your basement. Whenever it rains or snows melt, the water seeps up out of the ground and works its way into a concrete foundation. A sump pump is below the basement floor and acts as a drain to a sump pump crock, which is then pumped into the ground outside or attached to a storm drain, which carries the excess away from your home. Most sump pumps have a water level float (similar to the one in the toilet) that regulates when the pump flushes. The sump pump should be tested every few months. Testing is not only confined to the pump itself, but is also necessary to test the water level float as well as the crock.

The way to test is easy.

*You can add water to the crock or you can lift the float. Even if the water flushes, be sure that the crock empties completely. Check to be sure that the crock does not have roots growing in it. This is one of the major causes of clogging.

*Check the float to be sure that it is free moving. If it is sticky, it will not work. If it hits against the crock or the cover of the sump, it will not work.

*When testing, go outside to make sure that the pump is doing its job. Sometimes the pump can run but not pump. The cause of running may be that the impeller has disengaged from the pump shaft.

*Check and clean out the air hole in the discharge line.

*If the pump is noisy or if it has any rust, you should replace it.

*Another problem that sometimes happens is when the pump runs continuously during the heavy rains. It could give out. You should consider installing a second pump in the crock with a higher-level float. That way, if the lower pump should fail, the second pump would be the back-up system.

*Your sump pump is electrical, so you should have a back-up battery system. To check whether your back-up works, pull the power plug to the primary pump. This is a much better test than waiting for an actual power outage.

*Replace the battery on the back-up sump every two or three years.

Many companies have developed an alarm system that goes off when the sump pump fails. This might be a sound investment. A flooded basement will cost much more than an alarm.

Testing your pump regularly will keep your basement dry. It is one task that can’t be postponed.

By Nan C Avery

Tags: Back up sump pump, plumbing, sump pump

This entry was posted on Monday, July 19th, 2010 at 9:55 am under Plumbing Tips. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.