As the Erie County Fair has entered the WNY summer, we begin to look forward to football and fall. That’s what WNY is about in the fall, but if you’re a homeowner, you know that unforeseen problems with your home can make any season awful, no matter how good the Bills are doing. As we look forward to pumpkin patch trips and apple cider, let’s take a quick look at how you can make sure your sump pump is working properly so we don’t run into any issues this fall!
We don’t think about the sump pump often until it’s too late. It sits in the corner of the basement and isn’t always active depending on where you live. When the time comes that you DO need it, the sump pump is one of your most important defense mechanisms against thousands of dollars worth of damage.
Today on the blog we want to give you a few quick pointers on how you can check to make sure your sump pump is working properly.
Quick Visual Sump Pump Inspection
One of the easiest things you can do is a quick visual inspection. You don’t need to be a plumber to make sure you don’t see any debris, damage, or clogging. Check the inside of the pump for any debris, and check the exit pipes for any clogs that could impede regular flow. If there’s any dirt, leaves, or household objects be sure to get it out asap to make sure the sump pump can work efficiently.
Quick Sump Pump Power Inspection
You can do a quick test to make sure everything is working properly by unplugging the sump pump and plugging it back in, but it’s a bit more complicated than that. A typical sump pump will have 2 parts that connect to electricity; the motor and the float switch.
Unplug both the float switch and the motor. Then plug ONLY the motor back in. When you do this, your pump should immediately turn back on. If it doesn’t, you may need to replace or repair it. If it does turn back on immediately, simply plug your float switch back in, and the pump is good to go. *Be sure to remember to plug your pump back in after this test, or you could cause damage.
Quick Sump Pump Water Test
One final test you can perform somewhat routinely involves testing your home’s sump pump with water. To complete this test, just pour a small amount of water through your sump pump to make sure you can observe that the pump removes it effectively.
Take a bucket or large container and slowly pour the water into the pump basin. As the water rises, you should notice the float switch lifting, which should signal the motor to turn on and pump the water out.
If it does, great news, your sump pump is working properly. If not, you may need a professional to come take a look.
If you suspect something is wrong with your sump pump, you can always trust Advanced Sewer & Drain Cleaning to help. We can inform you of what isn’t working, and provide you the best response for your budget. If you need a full replacement or you just need a replacement part, we can take care of anything you need with your sump pump. Just give us a call or fill out our contact form to speak with a sump pump professional today!
