The most vulnerable part of the house commonly affected by floods is a basement. Being the lowest part of the house it easily gathers water from any source and hardly allows to remove it from there. This is why the sump pump became a popular investment among wise homeowners. Its purpose is to force excess water out from the house through the discharge line. Although it’s possible only when the sump pump is properly set and works correctly. This is why regular maintenance for it is a must.

So if avoiding the basement flood is your aim, it’s the best time to perform cleaning and maintenance for your sump pump. Which would be a great opportunity to save you later a lot of money for recovering.

Why Is Sump Pump Maintenance So Important?

A sump pump is considered to be the most effective tool against water damage caused by floods or other disasters. It works for you making unnecessary to monitor every leak and spend a lot of time for basement restoration. The designation of this tool is to collect and pump out the excess water when its basin is filled.

In case the sump pump has some breaks and doesn’t work properly the mechanism wouldn’t be able to start pumping water out when the basin if full, so the water from it will flood the basement anyway. Consider the following tips on sump maintenance for not allowing this to happen.

Key Areas to Focus Maintaining the Sump Pump

The regular maintenance of the sump pump should include:

• You can check it by lifting up the cover and pulling up the float. Such action will activate the properly working motor. If it doesn’t work check whether it’s connected to the power source. If it didn’t help as well, please contact the professional for fixing the problem.
• Discharge line. Its purpose is to drain water far away from the house, making water removal safe. Common issues are clogs, which should be regularly checked and removed.
• Backup Power. As floods often lead to power outages, please ensure your sump pump has the backup power, which is working well.

How to Prevent the Overflow?

Although the malfunctions are usual for sump pumps, please consider that even minor ones can cause the overflow at your basement as the result of, for example, continue rainfalls. The common reasons for such malfunctions are:

• Many types of debris may damage the float by getting into the basin. Take a rule to make frequent checks for debris and remove it, if any.
• A check valve is a key tool that is aimed to prevent water, which has been already pumped out, to get back. Ensure it works properly and its arrow is directed away from the sump pump.
• Weep Hole. You can check whether your sump pump has the weep hole, which is usually placed between the pump and the check valve. It should be also regularly checked for debris and clogs and cleaned thoroughly. Cleaning of the weep hole requires accuracy and is usually done with needle or toothpick. Although needle or toothpick break and left there can lead to more serious problems.

 

This is why it is better to trust sump pump maintenance to experienced professionals working at Signature Water and Fire Restoration. Involving top-rated experts you’ll receive the best service 24/7 and reliable protection from waterflood in a basement.