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3 Sump Pump Mistakes Homeowners Make
Sump pumps are lifesavers especially in the spring when thunderstorms cause torrential downpours in a short amount of time. Even in the worst of storms, sump pumps keep the water outside where it belongs. So, if you have a sump pump, you may be feeling pretty smug about your chances in the face of a spring storm, but if you’re missing key components, it may be a false sense of security. The team at Home Comfort Experts is here to tell you why.
How a Sump Pump Works
A sump pump consists of a pit in your lower level that is located below the floor’s surface. Inside the pit, a pump automatically turns on when the water level in the pit reaches a certain height.
The excess water is pumped through a pipe to the outside of your home where it drains away from your foundation. The sump pump is designed to signal the motor to pump the water out of the pit and turn off when the water level stops rising. So, no muss, no fuss, you don’t have to do anything, right?
Wrong. That’s mistake number one.
What Causes Sump Pump Failure?
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Failure to Check the Sump Pump
A sump pump is a machine, and like all other machines, it is subject to mechanical failure. Smart homeowners perform a sump pump test once a month or so to make sure all is working properly. It’s a simple process: Just get a five-gallon bucket, fill it with water and dump it into your sump pit. If the pump kicks on, everything is fine. If not, you’d better call for sump pump repairs.
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Power Outages
Ironically, during thunderstorms, when you need your sump pump the most, it often fails. That’s because thunderstorms can knock out the electricity to your home and your sump pump depends on that electricity to function. Without electricity, you have no sump pump.
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Lack of Battery-Backup Sump Pump
A battery-backup sump pump is the answer to keeping your sump pump working when the electricity goes out. Battery-backup sump pumps are ready to help in just such an instance. If the electricity goes out, the battery-powered backup pump will automatically start up when the pit fills with water, just as your pump would normally. An electric charger keeps the battery-backup pump fully charged so it’ll be ready at any time.
Related Read: The One Thing You Need for Your Home – a Battery-Backup Sump Pump
Don’t make these mistakes if you want your basement to stay dry. Water damage can be a huge hassle and extremely expensive. Make sure you have a sump pump, make sure it is in working order (especially in the spring), and make sure you have a battery backup sump pump in case of power outage.
