A sump pump is the only thing that has been standing between your house and all sorts of natural forces. Groundwater is collected and safely diverted away from your home by the sump pump in your basement. The sump pump can also be in the crawl space under your house or at the lowest level.
Groundwater might quickly gather and flood your foundation if you don't have a sump pump. Flooding under your home can be costly, dangerous, and damaging; however, if you get a sump pump, you can avoid this situation, and it is also an essential part of your home's protection. Making sure your sump pump is working in order is vital for home security upkeep.
To ensure that your sump pump, sump pit, and discharge pipe is working correctly, you have to take a few steps. These steps will work like miracles for your sump pump maintenance. So, today we are going to talk about the maintenance of your sump pump.
To care for your sump pump, you will need many maintenance tools. Like every other device, your sump pump also needs to be taken care of. Your sump pump requires regular cleaning. With the help of certain supplies, you can easily keep your sump pump performance at its best.
A few tools that are a must-have while taking care of your sump pump are :
These supplies are a must-have if you want to keep your sump pump under maintenance.
By taking care of your sump pump, you are actually taking care of your house. It can seem like an extra hassle that you just don't have the time for; even hiring a plumber seems expensive and not worth it. However, if your sump pump isn't taken care of, then your life can turn into hell and cost you a ton of money which is why it's crucial to take care of your sump pump.
So, here are a few steps you have to take if you want to maintain the health of your sump pump:
The first and most crucial step is ensuring that the water is off. Otherwise, the whole process can get very messy. To be precise, you don't have to turn off the water supply to your entire house. You just have to Turn off the water at any location where a fixture, such as a washing machine, drains directly into the sump pump.
If you can't turn it off, then all you have to do is ensure that no one else is using any of the appliances directly connected to the sump pump. You can also take the circuit breaker off.
Be sure to clean the sump pump during a time when it's not raining; this decreases the chance of a leak.
This is a very simple step. Disconnecting the power supply is the most simple yet crucial step in this entire process. Unplugging it from a basement outlet is typically sufficient. You can also turn off the circuit that supplies electricity to the pump directly at the breaker.
The sump pump in your house is most probably caked in mud and dead plants, along with the bodies of a few dead insects. So, when you remove the sump pump pit, all that dirt and gunk is going to fall all over the floor, which is why if you want to avoid the mess, you have to wrap it in a plastic sheet and then use the plastic scraper to scrape all the dirt and gunk off thoroughly.
By taking this step, you can avoid the mess, and you will also get a thoroughly cleaned sump pump. So, be sure not to skip this step.
The cleaning process is the toughest. To clean a sump pump, you have to take a few safety measures. You have to use your garden hose to wash off the gunk and dirt. When that top layer of gunk is gone, be sure to get your plastic scraper and clean the sump pump properly, ensuring that there is no remaining dirt.
If you don't have a plastic scraper, then you can use whatever you have that can scrape the grime and gunk off of the sump pump.
During this step, you should keep the bucket mentioned before underneath the check valve that already exists. This is where the water will drain into the pump. By opening this part, all the water that is still inside will slowly drain into the bucket underneath.
This step ensures that there's no existing water stuck and that there's no water damage.
In this step, all you have to do is use the shop vac and ensure that all the water inside the sump pump is gone. This step will save your sump pumps from gathering rust, and it will also keep your sump pump basin safe and rust-free.
After taking all of these steps and giving your sump pump a proper cleaning, you can reconnect your sump pump. When you are done reconnecting your sump pump, be sure to check if your sump pump functioning properly.
Here are a few reasons for you to clean your sump pump regularly:
While cleaning your sump pump, you have to take a few safety measures. These safety measures will keep you from harm's way and ensure that the cleaning process goes without any issues. The safety measures are mentioned below:
These safety tips are crucial if you are going to clean your sump pump.
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the maintenance of the sump pump:
Answer: Yes, it is safe to clean a sump pump all by yourself.
Answer: A sump pit, also known as a sump, sump basin, or sump well, is a hole in the floor of your basement or crawlspace that collects water.
Answer: Yes, regular cleaning is required with your sump pump to ensure a clean and safe home free of toxins and to avoid unnecessary floods.
Answer: You should clean your sump pump as regularly as you can.
Maintaining your sump pump can be a difficult task; however, it is absolutely crucial to ensure that your house doesn't flood with sludge and gunk. If you feel comfortable cleaning the sump pump by yourself, then you should definitely do it because it can save you a ton of extra work and unnecessary costs. You should maintain a few safety measures as well. Cleaning your sump pump is incredibly important.
When you do clean your sump pump, make sure that there is no remaining standing water. The remaining water can harm your sump pump badly and cause rust to form, which will end up costing you more money.
For any help regarding sump pump maintenance call QUEEN CHARLOTTE PLUMBING at 704-707-3339 today!
