It is your sump pump’s job to remove water from areas of your home, typically your basement. Sump pumps are used in areas that are prone to flooding, or in a basement where water intrusion is an issue. Your sump pump can only work properly, if it is properly maintained.
If you want your sump pump to do the job that it is meant to do, and to do it properly, then here are a few common sump pump mistakes that you need to watch out for.
Don’t Let Debris Get into Your Sump Pump
Your sump pump is designed to pump water and nothing else. Unfortunately, along with water in a basement comes gravel, silt, dirt and other debris. If you allow your sump pump to fill with debris, then it will work less effectively and may even eventually break. Check your sump pump regularly for debris intrusion.
Test Your Sump Pump on a Regular Basis
A sump pump is only designed to fire up when needed, i.e. when the water level reaches a certain level. If your sump pump is not inspected then it may not start up when needed, or it may be running permanently even when there is no water to pump.
To test that your sump pump will kick in when required, fill it slowly with water so that the float triggers and your pump activates as it should.
Listen When Your Sump Pump is Running
Your sump pump contains a motor, and you can tell a lot about the health of that motor simply by listening to it. A healthy motor should sound smooth, almost purring like a cat. If you can hear grinding, or if the noises the sump pump makes are irregular, then that could hint at a problem.
You should not try and fix your motor yourself. If you feel that the motor does not sound right then it’s probably best for you to call in the professionals. In fact, for most sump-pump related issues it’s probably best to seek help from experienced professionals.
If you are looking to improve the conditions in your basement, then please consider working with our team here at Tom’s Basement Waterproofing. We offer basement waterproofing, foundation repairs and much more. To get in touch with us please call (586) 949-7926 or (586) 776-7270 or use the online contact form that is available for you on our website.