Sump Pump Maintenance

The sump pump. The strange-looking device in the corner of the basement we rarely think about until we need it. What exactly is it? A sump pump is usually an electric pump that is placed in the basement of a home, and used to pump water from the basement to outside the home. Sump pumps normally work in combination with a sump pit. The sump pit is simply a hole dug into the ground, generally in the basement of a house, which allows water to collect into it. The pump then pumps the water out of that sump pit hole. A basement sump pump is most often used in cases where the house's basement is below the water table level, and in places where flooding is common. Because a sump pump is a piece of mechanical equipment, it usually needs some type of cleaning and general maintenance on a regular schedule. In some areas it's best to clean the sump pump yearly, but if your pump is used heavily you should consider examining it every three to four months.


4 Month Inspection + Maintenance:

• Clean pump inlet screen
• Check power cord and make sure the cord is connected to power
• Dump a bucket of water into the sump to raise the float and make sure the pump turns on.

Yearly Inspection + Maintenance:

• Remove the pump from the sump and clean it and inspect it
• Clean out the sump
• Replace the pump in the sump
• Check power cord and make sure the cord is connected to power
• Dump a bucket of water into the sump to raise the float and make sure the pump turns on, adjusting the float if required.

Never take your pump apart yourself to clean it. Most manufacturers advise against cleaning them yourself as you might deal damage to the pump's mechanisms. Consult your manual for things that you can or cannot do to clean your pump. Otherwise, contact your manufacturer and qualified personnel for sump pump maintenance and intensive cleaning. You might void the warranty by doing the cleaning job yourself.