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People who have sump pumps in their homes will tell you they could not do without them.  Like many other home appliances, a sump pump requires maintenance.

It is often recommended that you do not clean the sump pump yourself but leave that task to someone who is qualified.  However, you can pour white vinegar through the unit which will eliminate most of the build up in the system.  Sump pumps have screens or openings where the water enters the pump.  These screens often get clogged, if that happens, the pump will need to be professionally serviced by a plumber.

Some manufactures recommend the sump pump be run and tested every two or three months.  I highly recommend you do that and not wait until you have two feet of water in your crawl space or basement.  If you wait and that happens the cleanup will be very expensive.  Each manufacture provides written maintenance instruction for their pump.  If those instructions are followed the pump will last a long time.

Below are a few maintenance tips:

• Fill the sump pit with water to make sure the pump is working properly.

• Go outside and check to make sure the pump is discharging properly.  Some times the pump will run but not discharge water because the screens are clogged.

• When checking the pump, make sure the float is not obstructed or stuck in one place.  It should be free floating.

• Clean the air hole in the discharge line.  If it is clogged it will not pump properly.

• Listen to the pump motor for any strange noises.  Feel the casing to see if it is warm or hot.  If the pump is whinnying or hot, stop the pump and check it out.  It is probably clogged.

• Some pumps have a battery backup.  They should be changed every couple of years.

• Make sure the pit is free of debris.  If the inlet suction screen becomes clogged, the pump will not work.

• If you spot an oily film on the surface of the water the oil seal has been breached and the pump will need to be replaced.

In general, a sump pump does not require lots of maintenance.  However, following a few simple steps will extend the life of the pump and give you the full value of the pump.

Your sump pump system is your home’s first line of defense in heavy rains, flash floods and other water emergencies, so it is wise to keep that system in working order. Sump pumps operate automatically and are permanently installed typically in the basement in a “sump pit” or hole in your floor, while utility pumps are portable units that plug into an electrical outlet, though gas and battery powered utility pumps are available. They attach to a garden hose for removing standing water manually. Both types of pump need to be ready to perform in emergencies.

If your sump pump is not working up to par or you need a new system installed, consider upgrading to a new microprocessor controlled switch from Wayne Pumps. “If your sump pump is as old as your house, it likely has a mechanical switch,” says Tony Ferrante, VP Sales & Marketing, Wayne Water Systems, a leading manufacturer of sump pumps. “When pumps fail, it is usually due to switch failure. Mechanical switches, like tether and float switches corrode and wear out over time.” Here are additional tips from Wayne Water Systems to ensure optimal pump performance and safety.

• Check your sump pump regularly by pouring a pitcher of water into your sump pit. This will turn your pump on.

• Make sure your sump pump can handle the maximum amount of water anticipated, measured in gallons per hour. Refer to your instruction manual for performance reference.

• It is highly recommended that you include a battery back-up system in addition to your primary pump in the event of a power outage. Protection in this time of need is crucial, to protect your home.

• Remove standing water from your home or property with a utility pump to avoid mildew damage and the infestation of insects that may carry West Nile virus.

• Utility Pumps are usually non-automatic pumps that come in various submersible and non-submersible designs powered by electric, gas or battery. For submersible utility pump, the “pump” is intended to be submersible and therefore the typical 8′ cord will be partially, as well. Do not allow water to get near an outlet as the risk of electric shock.

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• Transfer Pumps are never submersible and are used to quickly transfer standing water from one area to another, like flooded basements or to fill or empty aquariums, water gardens or water beds.

• For quick removal when the water level has reached areas of concern, make sure your utility pump and any suction attachments are accessible. Do not store out of reach, such as in a shed. Water can rise to dangerous levels in minutes. If it is high enough to reach outlets, leave the area.

• Do not stand near open drains or catch basins, especially in or near moving water. If you lose your footing, water pressure can hold you under.

By following these tips, you can keep yourself and family safe as well as prevent extreme water damage to your home and valuables.

A sump pump is a drainage-tile system that is placed under the floor of you’re basement that channels water into a pit.

What does a sump pump do?

Some houses depending on location, climate conditions, and building structure. Have a unavoidable problem with flooding from the bottom up due to natural weather and environment conditions.
A sump pump provides somewhere for that water to go other then into your home.

How do I know if a sump pump is right for me?

If you have a serious or just annoyingly minor problem with water getting into your basement there are certain elements of your home you need to check to first identify if you have a flooding issue due to needing a sump pump, or just a overlooked minor issue that can be prevented by locating an fixing the problem.
So before assuming you need a sump pump check all drainage installed on or around your home.
Unclog all clogged gutters, downspouts dispose of runoff water at least 4 feet away from your homes foundation.
And all soil around the foundation of your home downslides at least 3 feet. *The downslide facing away from your home.
If you have a newer home make sure you don’t already have a sump pump installed.
If you still have a problem then a sump pump is right for you.

How is a sump pump Installed?

Usually a large slab of concrete is removed from the base of your home.
A large percentage of soil is also removed from underneath you’re home.
Then drain tiles, gravel, and a pit is installed in place of the concrete.

How much does it cost?

A professional normally charges around $2500 to $5000 to install a sump pump.
This being a reasonable price in comparison to the loss of value, and measure of damage of your home without the placement of a sump pump.

What are some ways to prepare for a sump pump installation?
Does your waterline run under the floor?
If so where does it run?
You might be able to find the answer to this by inquiring with a local buildings codes office. This being that usually these things are recorded upon installation and stored into files.
Think about how you may prefer your concrete to be removed being different tools may do better or worse jobs. Make inquiries about the tools to the installers being some installers will not use certain types of tools.

Will a sump pump be guaranteed to eliminate the flooding problem?

In most cases yes it will, but it depends on how serious your problem is. A sump pump gives water an alternate place to go other then straight up into your basement.
In extreme conditions this may only lessen the issue to something less threatening for your home.

Sump pumps really aren’t very complicated devices compared to some of the other things you have in your home. And yet their service can save you thousands in water damage, should flooding occur. Yes, the sump pump is the unsung hero of our basements.

1. Sump pumps generally fall into two categories:

submersible and pedestal. Both of these models serve to pump water out of the sump and away from where it can harm your property. Both kinds of sump pump sit at the bottom of your sump and activate based on a float switch that tells them when the water level has risen to a certain height. In fact, the parts of a sump pump are pretty much standardized these days. The main difference is that the pedestal sump pump has a motor that sits atop a pedestal, which stretches out of the pit and in plain view. This motor is supposed to remain dry, and the visibility can make repair a bit easier.

2. Power.

For most households, a 0.33 horsepower sump pump will serve adequately. If you feel that your basement suffers greater amounts of water than the average household basement, then you can use a 0.5 horsepower sump pump - it can pump more gallons per minute (standard unit of flow rate) and can pump the water higher.

3. Drainage.

In older homes, sump pumps are often set up to drain into places that, by today’s laws, are illegal. Check your local laws to make sure that your sump pump empties legally; often the older sump pumps are set to pump into the sanitary sewer (often illegal) as opposed to a storm drain or other legal setup. I’ve seen sump pumps that just pump the water right out onto the street, which can also be illegal. Check your local sump pump regulations to make sure your sump pump removes water at a legal distance and to a legal destination.

4. Maintenance.

Sump pumps don’t often require maintenance, but you must check on them once in a while. Once you see the evidence of a sump pump problem, all too often the damage has already been done. It’s best to be familiar with some of the main causes of sump pump failure so that you can occasionally check the condition of the sump pump and prevent that awful water damage. Any time you perform maintenance on the sump pump, unplug it!

• Check once in a while to make sure that the switch float inside your sump pump is floating freely; if it gets stuck, the sump pump won’t be able to detect the water rising.
• A plug in the opening to a sump pump can obviously make it difficult for a sump pump to fulfill its vital duty. Check your sump pumps occasionally to make sure that screens and openings aren’t clogged.
• Clean out the sump pit occasionally as well, since it accumulates dirt.
• Compressed air trapped between the pump and the check valve can impair a sump pump’s performance or simply render it inoperative. This is a pretty common problem in sump pumps with a solid pipe that leads to the check valve. If your sump pump has a solid pipe there, cut about a 1/8-inch hole through the side of the pipe within the sump; this will prevent compressed air from becoming a potential problem for your sump pump.
• Power outage will prevent any sump pump from working if it runs only on electricity. If your drainage problems often coincide with power outages, then a plug-in sump pump spells disaster for you. Consider buying a sump pump with backup battery power instead, or one that runs entirely on battery power.