WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO PERFORM SYSTEM TUNE-UPS AND MAINTENANCE CHECKS?

March 20, 2021

The sump pump is a crucial part of your home, as it protects you from water damage during periods of heavy rainfall or during the big thaws at the beginning of spring. People who suffer water damage in their homes often either do not have a sump pump to remove excess water, or have failed to properly maintain their sump pump and experience malfunctions that result in failure to remove that water.



Therefore, it’s crucial that before the rainy season hits, you find the time to inspect your sump pump and perform any necessary maintenance in Duluth, MN. Here’s a quick overview of the steps you should perform to properly maintain your sump pump each year:

Inspection:  The first step should be to inspect the condition of the sump pump and pit. Search the pit for any debris that could potentially be problematic for the operation of the pump. If there is any oil slick on the water’s surface, this could be a sign of a coolant leak that would indicate a replacement is necessary. Check the intake on the pump and clean it out if needed, and do the same with the impeller and the weep hole. Upon finishing the inspection, plug the pump back in and test to see that the GFCI outlet is fully operational. If you notice any damage to wires or connections, call an electrician to analyze the situation.

Test:  You can test the condition and capability of your pump by pouring a few gallons of water into the sump pit, just enough to reach the switch. If the float rises high without the pump turning on or the switch does not activate the pump, you should unplug the unit and search for debris again. If the pump operates properly, you should look at the discharge pipe. If the flow is reduced, you might have a blockage and may need to run high-pressure water or a snake through the pipe to clear that blockage.

Have a backup pump:  Even if you keep your pump well maintained, it’s a good idea to have a backup, just in case, especially if you have a history of seeing floods in your area. You shouldn’t wait until an emergency situation, when people are likely to make runs on hardware stores to get pumps when theirs fail. Have a pump available to install as needed to give you some extra peace of mind if a storm passes through.

Test and inspect the backup:  Having a backup isn’t enough—inspecting it and testing it to make sure it works is also important, otherwise you’re just gambling with that backup pump when the time comes to use it. You can follow the same processes you used to test and inspect your main pump.