{"id":501,"date":"2019-11-18T11:00:07","date_gmt":"2019-11-18T16:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cheeksac.com\/blog\/?p=501"},"modified":"2019-11-15T15:14:10","modified_gmt":"2019-11-15T20:14:10","slug":"sump-pump-good-shape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cheeksac.com\/blog\/plumbing-service\/sump-pump-good-shape\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Your Sump Pump in Good Shape?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"sump-pump-system\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

There are some parts of the country where homeowners have\nnever even heard the term \u201csump pump\u201d let alone do they know what it is. They\ndon\u2019t need to know, after all\u2014their home may be in a position where flooding is\njust not a concern. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, we\u2019re not in that part of the country! Sump\npumps are common in our area, and very often necessary. Winter and spring are\ntimes for heavy rains, and then as we get later in the year we also have\ntropical storm conditions to contend with\u2014that can send floodwaters right into\nyour home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The question is, is your sump pump in good condition to\nhandle this? <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Maintaining Your Sump Pump<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s some good news when it comes to maintaining your\nsump pump. For other large and important appliances, you need to hire a\nprofessional to do the work\u2014but for testing your sump pump, this isn\u2019t\nnecessary. There are a few things you can and should check on a routine\nbasis\u2014once every few months. We recommend brief sump pump inspections after\nevery storm, as well as the following tips every few months:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Check the\nCondition of Your Sump Pump: <\/strong>Watch out for any obvious signs of wear and\ntear. Examples of this can include any signs that the cord is frayed, or is not\nplugged into a proper GFCI outlet. Look for cracks in the case, and make sure\nthat your pump is upright. <\/li>
  2. Add Water\nto the Basin:<\/strong> Add enough water to fill the top of the pit your sump pump is\nin. The pump should activate right away\u2014if it doesn\u2019t then <\/em>it\u2019s time to call a pro. <\/li>
  3. Clean the\nGrate or Screen at the Bottom of the Pump:<\/strong> This screen can collect debris\nover time, requiring cleaning. <\/li>
  4. Check the\nDrains:<\/strong> The drains that lead from your sump pump outside go either to the\nsewer line or to your yard. If it\u2019s the latter in your case, be sure to check\nthat the drainage can move freely, and there is nothing blocking the opening. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    When it\u2019s Time to Call the Pros<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    As illustrated above, there are certainly some things you\ncan do on your own to ensure that your sump pumps is in good condition for any\nflooding weather or plumbing problem\u2014like propping it upright and securing it\ninto place, or cleaning out the drain and making sure it\u2019s unobstructed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    However, there may come a time where you need to call in a\npro for your sump pump services, such as if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n