The lowest part of your home is the first place that will overflow with water when it floods. A sump pump is a pump designed to manage those overflows and force the water into a different draining area. A functioning sump pump is an important part of plumbing when you are looking to keep excess water from doing too much damage to your home. Below is a guide to help keep you on top of your sump pump and prepared for future floods.
What Does a Sump Pump Do?
Sump pumps are found in sump pits: small holes dug below crawl spaces and basements. As the water builds, it will flow into the sump pit, which automatically triggers the sump pump when it senses a certain level of water pressure. The pump will push the water to a discharge pipe that leads outside your home. The water will safely flow to storm drains, rivers, or wells, keeping your house safe.
What Types of Sump Pumps Are There?
There are many different types of sump pumps that can suit your plumbing needs. Battery-operated pumps work like backup generators. They will continue to function during power outages, which is incredibly useful if a heavy storm brings both floods and shuts down the electricity in your home.
Water-powered pumps aren’t connected to electricity. They operate at water pressure, which makes them perfect for handling as much water as possible. Pedestal pumps use a motor on top of the pump. This makes it easily accessible when it needs to be repaired or replaced and gives it a longer lifespan than most sump pumps.
What Are Signs It's Failing?
A sump pump will automatically start when the pressure sensor picks up on the increase in water. If your sump pump is taking a long time to activate or to pump water out of your space, it may be too old to finish its plumbing job in the time you need it to. Also, if your sump pump doesn’t stop running, even after the water is gone, the machine may be nearing burnout.
Sump pumps only need to be replaced once every 10 years. After a flood, drain whatever water may be left in the sump pit. Be sure to open the sump pump’s cover to clear out whatever debris the water may have left behind. Debris can also clog the discharge pipe, so check the holes of the pipe to clear them. In dry periods, test your pump’s plumbing capabilities by pouring water into the sump pit to see how long it takes to remove the water.
If you need to make sure your sump pump is ready for every flood ahead, ask for help from John Lockwood Plumbing in Ontario, NY. For nearly 50 years, they have serviced the greater Rochester area and its surrounding counties with dedicated customer service. Their fully licensed plumbers are trained in sewer and drain cleaning, as well as installations for water heaters, toilets sinks, drains, and disposals. For further questions, visit their website or call them at (585) 265-0736.