Many of us are already aware that heavy bouts of rain can lead to dangerous massive flooding that can easily catch you off guard. For this reason, it’s essential to have your sump pump working properly, and it could make all the difference for keeping your home same in a storm. It’s always a good idea to be prepared for a storm, and your sump pump is a great place to start. Let’s take a closer look at five ways that you can make sure that your sump pump is ready when you need it the most.
- Clean the Drain
Start by locating the external pipe that catches the water as it is drained away from the pump. Check the pipe carefully for any items that may cause an obstruction and impede the flow of water. Remove any larger pieces of debris in the area and clean out the pipe. When you’re finished there shouldn’t be any debris or dirt that could clog to drain in a storm.
- Check the Water Level
Take a 5 gallon bucket, or you could use a larger cooking pot instead and fill it up with water. Then slowly pour the water into your sump pit and keep a close eye on the where the water level is. You will see the float rise as you pour so take your time.
- Checking the Pump
As the water level slowly rises, look out for the pump kicking on automatically. This should happen well before the water level reaches the top of the sump pit. Then as the sump pit empties the water, the entire system should turn off again.
- Call a Professional Plumber
If you’ve followed these steps so far and the float in the sump pit doesn’t rise, or the pump will not turn on and then off again automatically there is a problem. The system will need to be inspected further by a local trusted plumber to get it working again.
- Before You Call a Plumber
A common mistake that many people make is to call a plumber out to deal with their sump pump not working without checking the power first. Always double check that the pump is plugged into a working power outlet before making the call. This is a simple fix, and it could save you some money if this is the real source of your problem.
As you can see the process for checking that your sump is ready for heavy rain is relatively simple and it only takes a little time. There is no
specialized knowledge of plumbing required, and yet many people fail to do this small chore. It’s also worth mentioning that heavy storms can also lead to power outages which can be a real headache for homeowners. Obviously, the sump pump is powered by electricity, and a power outage will prevent it from working when you need it most. For this reason, it’s a good idea to install a battery back up system for your sump pump to act as an additional line of defense.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solution.
