Discover Ways To Maintain And Make Your Sump Pump In Good Condition

| Tuesday, September 27, 2011
By Holly Levy


The issue of basement flooding is quite prevalent during typhoons. The first line of defense to arrest water accumulation is a sump pump integrated system. So if your chief purpose of installing a sump pump is, you only wanted to reduce your insurance rates that may be a misplaced notion.

A sump pump that is regularly maintained is a vital key that helps you maintain and retain the great value of your house. It is advised that a periodic check up of for the duration of ten years be carried on to get your sump pump operationally reliable for years. Always check the parts of the unit like for instance the check valve, the filter and others. In doing so, you not only take care of your property and prevent the foundation from flooding, but you likewise save a lot of money in repairs caused by water damages.

For a well maintained sump pump, the application of the good ole habit of cleaning first, before using is more like it. It really pays to have the pump totally clean, and in good condition, so that in case of usage, you can rely on a hassle-free operation, in discarding unnecessary water from the basement.

The sequence of methods is as simple as ABC, that any homeowner can enjoy doing. Always rule of thumb is to unplug the pump first. Sure of it, you can detach the piping which is found below the check valve, then remove the pump simultaneously exhausting the remaining water by pushing the valve. On the side, take the valve's topmost part out, rinse the valve and simply reassemble it. By this time, you can proceed cleaning the sump pit, after which, return the pump to its original position and finally, test it by pouring water into the pit.

One of the parts of the sump pump that you can't dispense with is the check valve. This section is responsible for controlling the water from rushing into the pump especially when the unit is turned off. That is why, as a rational aspect of maintenance, the valve should be securely position in its proper place in the pump, if not, and water will go to the unit which could be the start of trouble.

The valve should always remain clean. This you can do by removing the cover, wash it then put it back. The other component of the sump pump is the air hole or weep hole. Found between the pump and the valve, it can be cleaned by using a toothpick. But be careful not to break it for this will block the opening. Then there's the impeller that is a small filter bolted to the sump pump which should also remain clean. When the unit delivers strange noises, the problem might come from a blocked filter.

Granting, all is well with the float. This should take you now to the check valve. There are occasions where the check valve isn't adequately mounted or else nothing can prevent the back flow of water into the unit particularly during shut off. Bear in mind that the check valve arrow, shouldn't be aimed directly to the pump unit.

Consequently, one other great way of maintaining the pump is installing sort of a back up source in case of a sudden drop in power outage. Oftentimes, it would be a generator or a maintenance-free marine battery. With a back up, water will be drained continuously thereby avoiding the hazard of overflowing water.

Check the sump pump trap for any bad odors. Water retention in this section is quite normal, but when the water is unable to go to the basin particularly at the onset of dry weather, you can gradually smell odor emanating from it.

Get rid of this smell by applying a solution of water and bleach. Furthermore, to prevent more damages from happening, the sump pump should be ably supported during power brownouts. So, it is definitely advisable to procure an alternate source, generally from a generator or a heavy duty battery. The objective is to prevent water overflowing and instead, this back up will work efficiently in draining the water as the basin is filling up.

Without any cloud of doubt, a sump pump is the formidable line of defense in cases of flooding in the basement, most especially during springtime. That is why, it is greatly admonished to keep it in tiptop shape by adapting maintenance checks on it. As it wears away in time, the homeowner should take steps to arrest the possibility of the unit conking out due to the absence of maintenance.

Afterward, it is now time to clean the pit by getting rid of grimes using plastic cups and gloves. After cleaning replace the pump and fill the sump pit with water, making sure it is functioning as expected.

After all maintenance checks have been accomplished and still, there seems to be no light in sight, a replacement may be in order.

In order for the pump to perform the above mentioned functions, every homeowner should adapt enough maintenance checks and things to do, all gear towards a well preserved sump pump. If you're maintaining your car, then why not this very important household fixture.




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