Give Your Sump Pump a Little TLC

Thunderstorms can be very destructive, as we all know. Wind and heavy rains can do quite a bit of damage to any home and the basement is no exception. The unsung hero keeping your basement flood free and dry is the sump pump. Generally, this workhorse plugs along with very little thought from the homeowner. When it does receive attention it is usually because it has a problem and the basement is flooding! Don't get caught in this situation by giving your pump a little TLC from time to time.
The first thing to consider is a temporary power outage. Unfortunately, a common companion to a severe storm is power failure. This is the worst time to have an outage! Copious amounts of water are raining down and this water needs to stay out of your home. If the power outage is severe, you might be without electricity for days or weeks. Frantically running around looking for a solution while your basement fills with water is no fun. Be prepared ahead of time and have a backup system in place. This might consist of something as straight forward as a generator and having reserve fuel on hand. Or maybe you install a small solar array with batteries so that you can have power on an indefinite basis. This option is particularly appealing with the current tax reduction incentive that the federal government is offering. Spend a little money now and avoid the enormous expense of repairing a flooded basement.
Second, inspect your pump from time to time. Examine the components and look for wear and tear. Pumps do not last forever and replacing one before it fails will put you way ahead.
Third, inspect the basin periodically for debris. Over time debris and small objects can find their way into your sump pump basin. These objects can become lodged in the pump and disrupt the pump's on/off switch. This can lead to pump failure as the pump end up running far more frequently than necessary. Be proactive and remove debris from your sump pump basin periodically. On a related note, don't install a pump in a basin with a dirt or gravel bottom as these can lead to debris problems as well.
Finally, even if nothing is wrong with your pump, you might want to consider replacing it every five years. Although they can last longer than this, replacing it before failure is a cheap insurance policy!
Hopefully, these tips can help you avoid a wet basement. Now, enjoy the next thunderstorm that passes through instead of worrying about your sump pump!
For more information on sump pump repair, sump pumps, or any plumbing needs visit www.NorthernAirPlumbing.com or call 218.927.6828
Article independently authored by Eric Parish. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Northern Air Plumbing. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.