Sump Pump Maintenance: When Did You Last Check Yours?
Your home will likely be your biggest investment, so regular maintenance is necessary to ensure it is a well-functioning and secure place for you and your family. Maintenance tasks can also prevent complicated and potentially costly repairs and replacements down the road. Sump pump maintenance is one such critical task. Here, the experts at Dry Tech Waterproofing Solutions help you better understand what goes into this process.
What Are Sump Pumps?
Sump pumps are important systems in your basement or crawl space for preventing flooding. These systems offer protection in the case of heavy rains, flooding, or sewage backup issues. Your basement may contain important household items such as a furnace, water heater, washing machine, and dryer. A few inches of flooding can cause considerable damage. Not to mention some households feature furnished basement spaces or storage areas for personal belongings, meaning any excess water could also result in losing priceless items.
This is where sump pumps come in. These systems collect water in the sump and expel it through a pipe to a safe space away from your home. Pipes can release water into storm drains or just far into your yard. There are many different options, including submersible sump pumps, pedestal sump pumps, battery-powered options, and more. Many residential options are automatic, using liquid level control to work as needed.
What Does Sump Pump Maintenance Entail?
Regular sump pump maintenance is one of the most effective ways to prevent water from pooling in a basement or crawl space. While sump pumps don’t require day-to-day inspections, there are some things you can do throughout the year to keep them running well.
If your sump is designed to collect discharge from your washing machine, you should check the pump screen or inlet opening monthly. If not, you can do this every three or four months. You should also test the sump quarterly by pouring in water and ensuring the pump works correctly.
Once a year, you should remove and clean the pump as well as the sump pit. Homeowners can complete this task themselves, but experts can perform it more efficiently.
What Can Experts Do to Keep Sump Pumps Up and Running?
While you can take care of some basic sump pump maintenance by yourself, waterproofing experts can go above and beyond to provide peace of mind. When you invest in a professional annual inspection, you can rest assured the experts will look over every aspect of your system, including:
- Making sure your sump pit is large enough (generally at least 24 in. in diameter and 18 in. wide).
- Ensuring your check valve is properly installed on the discharge pipe to keep water from flowing back into the pit once the pump turns off.
- Checking for a backup power source to ensure your system will run if a power outage occurs.
- Testing your sump pump alarm (if present).
- Installing or inspecting your cover.
- Ensuring your drainage location is legally placed and far enough from your home.
A professional inspection is helpful because experts can more easily identify any problems and perform timely sump pump repairs before further issues arise.
Reach Out to Dry Tech Waterproofing Solutions Today
Whether you want to protect electrical systems in your home or prevent invaluable items from being lost to water damage, regular sump pump maintenance is an important part of home ownership. If you notice rattling noises, wobbling sounds, or any other potential malfunctions, or you simply want to have your system looked over as a precaution, you should turn to the basement waterproofing experts at Dry Tech Waterproofing Solutions. We even provide sump pump installation and sump pump replacement services.
Our team has years of experience and has built a strong reputation with customers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. We use cutting-edge technology and dependable materials to get the job done right. We even offer free estimates, zero percent financing, and a lifetime warranty on our services. If you have any questions or are ready to meet with one of our experts, contact us or give us a call at 1-888-537-9832 today.
