Ensure Your Sump Pump is Ready for Winter

At Tom’s Basement Waterproofing, we want to make sure that the homes of all our Michigan clients are ready for the winter months. There’s a lot to prepare for when it comes to ensuring that your residence is prepared for the cold temperatures and winter precipitation that will soon hit the Michigan area. Since we’re focused on keeping basements dry for property owners, we want to ensure that if you have a sump pump, that it is ready for winter.

Sump Pump Basics

For many homeowners, you may not have ever heard of a sump pump. If your home has a basement, then you more than likely have a sump pump in place. A sump pump is a pump that is utilized to remove excess water that has built up in a water-collecting sump basin. This basin is typically found in the basement of a home. The purpose of a sump pump is to keep your basement from flooding. A sump pump moves any vulnerable water away from your basement to a location on your property that will not cause any issues to the foundation of your home, such as a storm drain or dry well.

Winter Maintenance of Your Sump Pump

A sump pump is an item on your property that does need to be maintained, especially before winter. At a minimum, your sump pump should be evaluated thoroughly annually. Taking the necessary steps to ensure that your sump pump is ready for winter will help prevent any drastic damage to your home like a flooded basement due to a sump pump that has failed. When examining your sump pump before winter, be sure to remove any dirt, gravel, sand or other debris that may have built up around it. The removal of these items will ensure that your sump pump drains properly and sets it up to last a long time! Another situation that you want to avoid at all costs during the winter is a frozen sump pump. Try heating the sump water to a lukewarm temperature level during the winter months. Other ways to prevent a frozen sump pump includes keeping your water running to make sure that it doesn’t freeze, creating a slight slope for your sump pump, and insulating the discharge line and intake section.

At Tom’s Basement Waterproofing, we are the experts when it comes to ensuring your sump pump is ready for winter. There are a lot of homes in Michigan with basements, so feel free to give us a call to evaluate the state of your sump pump before winter. To learn more about sump pump maintenance and preparing it for winter, give us a call today at (586) 949-7826.