One of the most effective tools for preventing water damage in a building is the sump pump. When water from a water heater leaks or drains in the upper levels of the house get clogged, water will find its way into the basement. During the rainy season, floodwater can also find its way into your home and accumulate in the basement before flooding in other parts of the building occurs. In all these cases, you can prevent water damage in your home by turning on the pump and pumping out all freestanding water from the basement. Like all other machines, they should be checked and maintained on a regular basis to ensure they are always operational. When your sump pump fails to work, it is always advisable to have a sump pump repair in Whitehall, PA or similar areas that have lots of precipitation. This guarantees that when the time arrives for it to perform , it will do its job.
How A Sump Pump Works
Contents
A sump pump is a submersible pump mounted in a pit on the floor of the basement. The pump is powered by an electric motor which is automatically turned on and off by a float switch. This float switch is pushed up and down by water in the pit. Most units also come with flood alarms, which are usually battery powered. When there is flooding in the basement due to snow melt, flooding rainwater, or backed up drains, the pump is turned on automatically and pumps water from the pit to the outside. It pumps the water far away from the foundation of the building so that it does not reenter your home. Once all the water has been removed from the pit, the pump turns off automatically. Routine maintenance is needed to ensure that both the switching and water removal mechanisms work flawlessly.
Maintaining Your Sump Pump
Although they are usually incredibly reliable,your pump can still fail if they are not properly cared for. If the pump fails to remove water from the basement, the foundation of your home can be severely damaged. Fixing the water damage will be a costly process, which most homeowners’ insurance policies may not cover. To prevent your basement from flooding and getting damaged, you may want to consider the following maintenance procedures:
Keep It Clean
Every once in a while, you should remove the pump from the pit and clean the pit. Remove any objects, such as stones and sticks, that may be around the pit or inside it. Be sure to also get rid of any mud which may have accumulated in the pit. This should be done at least twice a year.
Run Occasional Tests
You do not have to wait until your basement starts flooding to check to see if your pump works. Ideally, you should pour a bucket of clean water into the pit to see if the pump will start automatically. If it doesn’t, you should take a closer look at the pump, particularly the float component. If necessary, have the pump serviced by a professional. If the pump turns on automatically, check the outlet/discharge pipe to ensure it is not clogged or frozen. Remember to also check the vent hole in the discharge pipe to ensure it is always clear.
Routine Inspections
If your pump has a back up power supply, turn of the pump’s circuit breaker and pour a bucket of water into the pit. If the pump does not turn on, your back up power supply may have a problem. In such cases, be sure to call in a professional to take a look at it. Remember to also replace the batteries in the unit every two to three years.
The key to having a properly functioning sump pump lies in routine inspections. If you notice a problem, have it fixed immediately. This will ensure that you do not have any issues with it when the time comes for it to perform.
Water can majorly damage your home and can lead to costly water damage repairs. A sump pump can prevent this from happening. Like all machines, it does need maintenance and occasionally, you will need a sump pump repair. When you need a sump pump installation, repair, or any other plumbing services, be sure to contact Robinson Plumbing. Keep your household safe from the problems that water damage causes by getting your pump today. We offer plumbing services in Emmaus, PA and all surrounding towns.
Call us today at (610) 351-9889 or contact us for any questions that you might have!