Here in the Kansas City area, we’re certainly no strangers to heavy summer rainfall! It’s hard to believe we’re just under a month away from the first day of summer, but it’ll be here before you know it. With that in mind, it’s important to make sure your plumbing system is equipped to handle these changing weather conditions. As we’ve mentioned in the past here on the blog, each time the seasons change, so does the way in which your plumbing reacts. In this week’s blog, we’ll take a deeper look at why your sump pump is going to be your strongest ally this summer. It’ll be the last line of defense in preventing a true plumbing emergency from occurring at your home!

What is a sump pump?

Before diving into the finer details of maintaining your sump pump, it’s important to understand what it is and why you need one in the first place. In essence, a sump pump is an electrical pump that activates on its own upon the detection of water. Typically, the sump pump is installed in an unfinished part of the basement. Through a series of pipes, it’s able to transport this water outside of your home and prevent it from accumulating. 

Installed in a sump pump trench or pit, it has a float that is able to tell how much water there is in the pit. The water should never be that high in the sump and typically has a “safety margin” that prompts it to turn on when it reaches that point. When operating correctly, it will protect your home from water building up that could easily result in a plethora of interior issues.

How can you confidently know your sump pump is ready for summer?

There’s no denying the fact that sump pumps are incredibly useful tools in an overall plumbing system. After all, it’s going to be responsible for ensuring there’s no water accumulating that could cause mold growth, possession loss or even a flooded basement! In order for it to do this though, it does require maintenance and some upkeep. The easiest way to ensure that it’s ready to go for the increased summer rainfall? Test it! Here’s how you can do just that:

  • Inspect the pump. First off, you’ll want to examine the actual state of the sump pump and make sure there’s nothing obvious that could affect its performance. Remove the cover and look inside it. If you notice a low water level, there’s a good chance it’s working correctly. Conversely, if it seems to be above the safety margin, there may be an issue. While inspecting the sump, look for any debris in the pit that could present future blockages. 
  • Plugged in? In the process of inspecting, check to confirm that it is plugged into a GFCI outlet. In addition, be sure to monitor the state of the electrical cord to ensure it’s not damaged or frayed in any way. As a side note, consider getting a battery backup pump or a portable generator in case the electricity were to go out during a storm!
  • Drain pipe clear? Next, locate the discharge pipe. Make sure there’s no debris that could obstruct the removal of water. Even a little bit of debris or gravel can force the pump to work much harder and eventually die out!
  • Run a test. With everything properly inspected, it’s time to run a test and confirm the sump pump turns on when it’s supposed to. Take a five-gallon bucket of water and pour it into the sump pump pit. When the water reaches a specific point, the float should signal the pump to turn on. The water should be getting dispersed away from the home through the discharge pipe. If this isn’t the case, you could be looking at an underlying issue that needs to be addressed promptly. Call a licensed plumber to take a look before the next storm comes through!

How to maintain your sump pump?

When your plumbing system is functioning correctly, it’s something that most homeowners don’t even think about and take for granted! However, it’s in those rare instances where something goes awry that your plumbing system can quickly turn into a major headache. The fact of the matter is most plumbing fixtures and appliances require routine maintenance to continue operating and last through their expected lifespan. Take your water heater for example. Unless you consistently flush out the sediment built up at the bottom of the tank, it’s going to gradually wear out your tank and eventually force you to hire a plumber for a repair or replacement. The same logic holds true for sump pumps.

Due to a sump pump’s quiet nature in which it operates, you’re likely going to assume it’s working until you go to the basement after a heavy rain and notice everything is flooded! When it comes to regular maintenance, here’s what we recommend:

Every 4-5 months: Considering how frequently the weather changes here in Kansas City and how strong the rainfalls can be, we strongly recommend that homeowners test out there sump pumps at least a few times each year. Utilizing the test listed above, it’s as simple as slowly pouring some water into the pit and making sure it turns on. If it does, you’re in great shape.

Once a year: While ensuring the pump turns on correctly is the major test, it never hurts to perform an annual thorough inspection and clean your pump. This will ensure it isn’t damaged and you can get the full expected life out of it. To do so, simply remove the pump from the sump and give it a general cleaning. Additionally, every manufacturer is slightly different and some require grease for the bearings. Check out the manual to determine whether or not this is the case with yours.

Want some added piece of mind? For anyone that’s experienced a flooded basement, we completely understand how much of a travesty this can be. From the priceless possessions that may have been lost to the expensive repair bills, anything you can do to avoid it happening again is worth it. Schedule a routine inspection with one of our trained technicians to ensure everything is in working order. As always, we’re happy to provide a free quote for this service.

Sump Pump Battery Back-Up

As you’ve likely started to see throughout this blog, the only way to know that your sump is ready for the summer rain is if it turns on when it’s supposed to. It’s as simple as that! However, I’m sure all of our fellow Kansas City homeowners are well aware of the fact that thunderstorms often accompany these heavy rains. And when it storms, there’s always the chance of the power going out as well! As so, this could also knock out hard-wired sump pumps. In these situations, the battery backup could be the difference between everything working and a flooded basement. Our final recommendation when you hire a plumber to install a sump pump is to make sure you ALSO have a battery backup installed as well!

Call Your Friends at Stine-Nichols Plumbing!

As we often say here on the blog, our team at Stine-Nichols takes pride in providing every possible residential and commercial plumbing service. A complete plumbing system is so widespread that it can be very difficult to keep track of everything and ensure it’s all working correctly. Throughout this blog post, we walked you through a vital piece in this system: the sump pump. Particularly living here in the midwest, we’re no stranger to heavy summer rains. Make sure you won’t have to worry at all about a flooded basement or water damage by having a functioning sump pump!

Not sure if you need one or want yours inspected? Feel free to give us a call at (816) 348-3481 or fill out our FREE QUOTE form to have one of our experienced technicians take a look. We currently serve the entire Kansas City area, as well as many of the surrounding cities!