Would you agree that homeownership and routine maintenance tasks often go hand-in-hand? While it would be great if everything lasted forever, that is probably just wishful thinking! Appliances, plumbing fixtures, furniture, electronics, the list goes on. Having offered both residential and commercial plumbing services to fellow Kansas City residents, we’ve seen the value of regular maintenance displayed on countless occasions. Long story short, simply performing some routine maintenance can significantly improve your return on investment (when it comes to plumbing).
One plumbing piece that you undoubtedly want functioning properly is the sump pump. Will your sump pump be used as frequently as other components, such as water heaters, toilets or faucets? That is highly unlikely. However, if it’s not working when you actually need it to work, you could be faced with some serious problems! This week on the blog, we’ll be taking a look at the importance of maintenance in relation to sump pumps. In particular, we’ll discuss the aspect of cleaning your sump pump and the pit in which it resides.
Do you have an existing sump pump that has started to show signs of needing replaced or are interested in having a new sump pump installed? If so, our team at Stine-Nichols would be more than happy to assist on this repair or replacement. For a free quote, fill out the form HERE or give us a call at (816) 348-3481.
How Often Should You Clean Your Sump Pump
Before we get into some of the best practices for actually cleaning your sump pump, it is important to understand how often these maintenance tasks should be performed. Keep in mind that every situation can be different as well, depending on the brand of sump pump you have installed and the usage frequency. A general rule of thumb though is to plan on cleaning your sump pump and the pit once a year. Obviously, you can do it more often if you’re concerned, but an annual cleaning is a great starting point.
What to Look For in Your Sump Pump
Now that we have a general timeline on how often you should be cleaning your sump pump, it’s critical to understand what exactly you should be looking for. This includes both the actual sump pump and the pit where it sits. The more familiar you are with how the sump pump layout is supposed to look like, the more likely you are to recognize when something isn’t right. And since the sump pump can carry extremely important responsibilities, this can be an invaluable skill to possess. So, while you’re in the process of cleaning your sump pump, what should you be looking for or doing?
Standing Up Straight – As a sump pump is operating, there’s always going to be a risk that it could tilt or fall on to its side. If this is the case with your sump pump, make sure to adjust it and have it standing up straight. This will ensure there are no issues when it turns on.
Clean Out the Pit – It’s obviously important to clean the pump, but don’t forget about the pit either. If you have a sump pump installed at your own home, you know that it sits inside a pit. This is where the water flows into, before prompting the pump to kick on. During your annual maintenance, make sure that it’s cleaned out. You’ll want to remove any water that may be sitting or debris that’s accumulated at the bottom.
Clean the Sump Pump – You’re also going to want to clean the actual pump. After properly disconnecting it from the power source, make sure to follow the instructions for your particular pump and properly clean it. At this time, it would also be wise to evaluate the current state of your sump pump. While every situation is different and with the usage frequency being a major determining factor, a good baseline number for a sump pump’s lifespan is roughly 10 years. That should give you a solid estimate to work off of.
How Has the Recent Performance Been – In the process of cleaning out the pump and pit, now would be a good time to think about how it’s been performing recently. Does it seem to make some odd noises from time-to-time? Does it only run when it’s being used or has it ever kicked on at weird times where there’s no sitting water? These are just a couple of quick examples of a sump pump that could be nearing its end. Even if it works when you test it, something might still be awry. In these moments, it wouldn’t hurt to have a licensed plumber get eyes on the situation. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Electrical Cord – A final quick item to inspect is the electrical cord. Make sure it is still completely intact and that there’s no signs of a damaged or frayed cord.
Maintaining the Battery Back-Up
One potential pitfall of a sump pump’s effectiveness is that when the power goes out, you could also lose your sump pump as well. While not every storm knocks the power out, we would be lying if we said it’s never happened here in Kansas City. That’s where a battery back-up system comes into play. This will ensure your sump pump still operates effectively, even if the power goes out. Since this blog post is largely focused on “maintenance,” you may wonder what needs done to properly maintain the battery back-up? Just as is the case with regular batteries, you’re going to want to be familiar with the particular system you have and how often it’s used. This will help determine how long you can expect the battery to last, how to test it and how to check on its current levels.
Don’t Forget to Test It
As evidenced throughout this blog, cleaning your sump pump is obviously an important household maintenance task. However, one of the easiest ways to make sure your sump pump is always ready to go is simply by testing it. And luckily, the actual process of testing it is about as easy it gets. The best way to test it is to just run some water through it. Slowly pour roughly 5-gallons of water into the pit. Once it reaches a certain level, the pump should kick on and start dispersing the water. Assuming the pump activates, make sure everything with the discharge pipes is functioning properly and then head outside to make sure it’s going away from your foundation. And that’s how you test a sump pump!
Your Sump Pump Professionals in Kansas City!
Just as we mentioned in the opening paragraph, our team at Stine-Nichols offers both residential and commercial plumbing services. With that being said, sump pumps have always been a popular service each and every year. For one, homeowners and business owners alike both want the peace of mind that their sump pump will be ready to go when needed. It’s as simple as that. It should come as no surprise that a flooded basement can be one of the most costly plumbing emergencies out there. While there is some maintenance associated with sump pumps, this blog post has shown it really isn’t all that complicated. Whether it be for routine maintenance, repairs to an existing unit or installing a new sump pump, our team of trained professionals are here to help! To schedule a free estimate or simply speak with a member of our team, feel free to call us at (816) 348-3481 or fill out our website form HERE.