A sump pump can offer peace of mind during rainy season, but don’t take that safety measure for granted. A sump pump needs regular maintenance in order to work its magic of keeping water out of your home. That will ensure it stays in optimal working condition. Sump pump maintenance is important year-round, but heavy rain from summer storms makes it of particular concern this time of year.
The time to start thinking about sump pump maintenance is not when a big storm is forecast and you realize you’re going to need it. And yet that is an all-too familiar scenario for many homeowners. Taking care of sump pump maintenance throughout the year will ensure that your sump pump is ready to go when it’s needed.
This list outlines Bonfe’s top seven sump pump maintenance tips. Follow these tips and your sump pump is guaranteed to have your back.
Sump Pump Maintenance Tips
A word of caution before we start: Make sure to disconnect all electric cords from the outlet before inspecting your sump pump. In addition, you should consult the manufacturer’s manual for any precautionary advice before getting started.
- The pit where the water collects around the sump pump should be free of any dirt, dust, and debris. If you do not keep the pit cleaned of the debris, it could clog the discharge tube and pump impeller.
- You should also ensure proper positioning of the float. The float should not be obstructed by walls or any other objects, and should be kept at a proper height.
- Inspect the drain line for any signs of damage, corrosion, or holes. If the line is damaged, the water will remain at the bottom and flood the basement.
- Clear the area surrounding the sump pump of any loose items that could get stuck inside the pump. And make sure that you have quick access to the pump. In an emergency, you don’t want to wait until the basement is flooding before being able to access the pump for repair.
- Make sure there’s a 3/16 to 3/8-inch hole in the tube directly above the pump. This is an air hole and is there to prevent an airlock in the discharge lines.
- Turn on the pump to ensure that it is in good working condition. Fake flood the pump with a hose to test whether it’s able to effectively pump water. If it is plugged into a GFCI outlet, you should also test the outlet prior to and during the storm. If the GFCI trips, that could make the sump pump inoperable. Plug the sump pump into the GFCI and press the ‘test’ button to verify that they’re both in working condition.
- Finally, schedule a professional inspection at least once a year. This will ensure that the sump pump remains in operable condition and will not die out on you when you need it the most.
Bonfe offers professional 6-step sump pump inspections, with a lifetime warranty on all Bonfe recommended repairs. Print this coupon and present to your service tech to get your sump pump maintenance inspection for just $59.
Great tips! All electronics and wiring that are submerged under water during a flood will most likely need to be replaced, which can be very expensive. Flooding can be very dangerous to you as well. Keeping that sump pump in working order is a must if you want to be completely safe..
Thanks for the article! I thought it was interesting that you suggest having proper positioning of the float. Giving the float enough space and not being obstructed by walls will help the system run better. I have my pump serviced once a year to ensure top quality performance. I really appreciate the advice you have given here, I hope to apply these tips in the near future.
I’m glad you talked about that first point about keeping the water pit clean and unclogged. My wife and I are looking to get a sump pump, right now, but having never owned one before, we didn’t know something as simple as this. We will make sure the pipes don’t get clogged from any dirt or dust that gets into the pit when we get a pump.
I agree that when it comes to installing pumps it is a good idea to schedule regular service from professionals. Thay can help to make sure it is properly installed and in good working conditions. I will make sure to keep the tips you have given in mind. Thank you for posting.
Thanks for the comment, John. I’m glad you found the article helpful!
Bryan Delmont
General Manager
Bonfe
I really like that you mentioned that you have quick access to the pump. I’ve been looking to buy a pump, and I haven’t decided where to store it. I can see how if there is a problem you wouldn’t want to struggle to get near it. I’ll make sure to keep this in mind when I set up a pump.
fantastic blog really learnt more about maintaining tips of sump pump. last time my submersible pump was gone worse because i did’t have any plan to maintain that but now your guide is really informative to me. hope in future i will learn more things about sump pump.thanks for sharing information
Great article what an awesome place to know about maintaining tips about the sump pump i’m really happy to found this blog. thanks mate for sharing such a informative article.
Thanks for the tip to disconnect all electric cords from the outlet before taking a look at a sump pump. I was thinking of getting some sump pump installation into my own home, and I want to take care of it once I get a sump pump. Disconnecting the electricity and clearing it of debris will be some thing’s I’ll do to help with keeping good maintenance after the installation.
I like that you mentioned turning on the pump to make sure it’s working. I have been wanting to install a new sump pump in my backyard. I can see how it would be nice to turn it on after it’s installed because I want to make sure there aren’t any problems.
I liked that you had mentioned that it can be important to inspect the drain line for signs of damage to avoid flooding. My wife and I have been worried about our pump and the noises it’s been making. We’ll have to start looking around for a professional that can handle pump repairs to make sure we can avoid possible flooding.
Well written post. I found this topic on maintenance tips of sump pumps from many sites but no other sites fulfilled my needs. I have one battery backup sump pump thats not working right now. But after reading your step by step guide I will perform all steps on my sump pump. Hope my sump pump will work file now. Thanks for sharing this good post with us. Keep it up
These are really beneficial tips for the proper maintenance of a sump pump. This blog is really awesome for reading.
highly appreciative information on sump pumps . It helped me in choosing sump pump and solved my queries on the problems that is usually faced .
It is an fantastic blog on sump pumps as it helped me not only solving the problems that a sumppump owner faces but also hel[ped me in choosing better sumppump on the basis of the information provided in this website . all i can say is thank you 🙂