Sump pumps are used to protect basements and crawl spaces from flooding. Using a relatively simple mechanism, they are able to detect and remove unwelcome water from your home. If you aren’t sure how old your sump pump is, it’s probably time for it to be inspected, cleaned, and maintained by a professional. We can make sure your pump is fully operational and replace it if not.
Schedule sump pump repair or replacement with the highly rated Fredericksburg plumbers at Plumb Perfect Plumbing. Give us a call or contact us online today.
Sump Pump Basics
Sump pumps are usually installed in a pit in the lowest part of a basement. If the pit starts flooding, the pump turns on and powers the water out and away from the home. Without such a pump, your belongings are susceptible to water damage and the structural integrity of your house could suffer.
The two different kinds of sump pumps are:
- Pedestal – The motor is secured above the sump, meaning it’s more visible but also more easily accessible for sump pump maintenance and repairs with a 25-30 year lifespan.
- Submersible – Placed in the sump pit in a sealed case to protect the electrical circuits from water, which allows it to be more effective and discreet, but is only expected to last around 10 years.
How to Know if You Need a Sump Pump
If you have a finished basement or one you just remodeled, the last thing you want is for a flood to ruin it. The best way to ensure your home doesn’t flood is to install a sump pump, which collects water into a basin and pumps it out before it can flood. So, here are signs you need to install a sump pump.
- Water in the Basement: If you’ve ever had water in the basement before or it has flooded before, you need a sump pump.
- Your Region Gets a Lot of Water: If you live in a part of the country that gets a lot of snow or rain, you’re safer if you install a sump pump.
- Your Home Is in a Low Area: Since water collects at its lowest point, consider installing a sump pump if your home is in a low-lying area.
If you’re unsure about getting a sump pump, call us for a consultation.
How to Maintain Your Sump Pump
Keeping your sump pump in tip-top shape is essential to ensuring that your home is safe and dry when heavy rains come. Here are a few tips to ensuring your sump pump is ready to go when you need it.
- Make sure it’s plugged into a ground fault circuit interrupter outlet.
- Check the discharge pipe and vent hole for obstructions and clean it out if needed.
- Check the intake screen for clogs and clean out debris.
- Clean out debris from the pit and make sure the float isn’t obstructed.
- Test the pump by dumping a bucket of water into the basin. The float should rise as the water rises and trigger the pump.
- If your pump uses a battery backup, replace the battery at least every two years.
Prepared for Everything
Depending on your home and the model in question, sump pumps can be directly integrated into your electrical system or simply plugged into an outlet. With either method, we will also install a backup battery to ensure that the pump can operate even when the power is out. This is crucial as losing power is often due to large storms – when you need the sump pump the most.
From sump pumps to sewage pump replacement, we handle it all so you don’t have to deal with a mess later!
Protect Your Property
Installing a sump pump in your home is a simple way to avoid the costly damage of a future flood. Whether your existing sump pump is wearing out and needs replacement or your home is in need of its first sump pump, our Fredericksburg plumbers are trained and equipped to safeguard your property.
