Care And Maintenance Tips For A Sump Pump

One of the most serious plumbing emergencies that you can suffer in your home is flooding. Flooding can be caused by many hazards. There are natural causes of flooding and man-made hazards that can also cause flooding. The main natural cause of flooding is heavy rainstorms. If you live in an area where heavy rainstorms occur frequently, then you can suffer flooding problems from time to time. You will need to install a sump pump in your basement to keep the water from flooding the house. One common man-made causes of flooding is pipe leakages. The pipe that you install in your house can start leaking heavily leading to flooding. This can be very destructive to your possessions and the house. Heavy leaking pipes are not a very serious cause of flooding because you can easily turn off the water at the main shutoff valve when you notice a leak and hence avoid the whole problem of flooding. But you should also remember that heavy water leaks can occur when you are away from the house. That is why you should always install a sump pump to keep the water out of the house. As you can see, sump pumps are very important plumbing devices. That is why you should implement the following care and maintenance tips for your sump pump.

Regular And Proper Cleaning

A sump pump is a mechanical plumbing device that pumps flood water out of the house. Sump pumps are usually burrowed in the basement floor. These devices are electrically powered and they usually start pumping flood water automatically when it reaches a certain level. Flood water contains all kinds of dirt and debris. This means that a sump pump requires regular and thorough cleaning to get rid of all this dirt and debris. Otherwise the device will get clogged and stop working. And then you will have to request Cincinnati plumbing repair services to have the device repaired. You can avoid all these problems if you clean your sump pump regularly and properly. Start by cleaning the filter screen and then proceed to the drain line. Then disconnect the device and take it outside so that you can hose the whole unit. Clean the sump pit where the sump pump is burrowed before reinstalling it.

Proper Positioning

You should check the positioning of your sump pump regularly. A sump pump should always be positioned upright. When the sump pump is working, it vibrates a lot. These vibrations can topple the sump pump. If the sump pump topples and stays on its side, it cannot work properly. In fact the sump pump can be damaged if it stays in this position. Inspect your sump pump regularly to ensure that it’s positioned correctly and that it’s standing upright.

Test The Float Switch

One of the most important parts in a sump pump is the float switch. This is the switch that activates or turns on the sump pump automatically when the flood water reaches a certain level. You should test the float switch regularly to ensure that it’s still sensitive. This is a simple test where you pour a bucket of water into the sump pit and check whether the sump pump starts automatically. This test ensures that the float switch is working properly and will hence activate the sump pump automatically during a flood.

Professional Inspections

You should hire a professional plumber to inspect your sump pump at least once a year. He will check all the parts and tell you whether the device requires repairs or replacement.