Why is regular maintenance of my sump pump so important?

Standard homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover many of the damages caused by water. Check with your insurance agent about whether it is possible to extend your policy to cover damage caused by water. Your policy may also include a discount if you can show proof of regular maintenance.

There are many ways that excess water can get into your basement or crawlspace. A few of the more common causes can be runoff from heavy rains, the soil around your home may not drain properly, or you may have cracks in your foundation walls.

Steps for checking your sump pump:

1. Turn off circuit breaker and unplug power to the pump. Confirm that the cord is in good condition.
2. Gloves and Safety goggles are recommended for the next steps
3. Close shutoff valve located in discharge piping (ideally it is installed above the check valve)
4. (SKIP THIS STEP IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A SHUTOFF VALVE) Remove check valve and visually inspect it for damage. Make sure it fully opens and closes.
5. Disconnect the sump pump from the discharge pipe and remove it from the basin
6. Make sure the vent hole in the discharge pipe is clear from debris
7. Clean debris from exterior of pump (a garden hose may help a lot with this step)
8. Use a wire brush to clean the pumps inlet screen
9. Check the owner’s manual to see if the bearing require grease or oil
10. Reconnect the check valve and replace the sump pump back in the basin
11. Restore power by plugging in the power cord and turning on the breaker
12. Test the pump by dumping a bucket of water into the basin (if the pump turns on maintenance of the pump was a success)
13. Check the floats to see if they are connected properly and free from obstructions (probably not a bad idea to pour more water into the basin to observe the movement of the floats)

The frequency of how often this should be done will vary depending on the specific factors that will contribute to how much and how often water enters your basin. Systems under high use will require far more maintenance than those with less use.

Do you still have questions or concerns about whether your sump pump is working properly and efficiently? Call us today at RC Worst & Company for any of your sump pump questions.