Wayne Texeira,
 Marketing Director, CFMP, AINS, AIS, API

Do you have a sump pump in your basement? If yes, it’s important to perform regular maintenance checks to ensure that it’s working properly to keep your home dry and prevent damage from excess ground or rainwater. Periodic checking that your pump is functioning properly can reduce the chances of a failure at the worst possible moment.  The best time of year to annually test your sump pump is late winter/early spring before the “wet season” of snow melt, thawing ground thaw and heavy spring rains. 

Causes of Failure

Some reasons that a sump pump can fail include:

  • Power outage/Battery backup failure
  • Burned out motor
  • Unplugged, blown fuse or damaged power source
  • Clogged intake or discharge
  • Frozen discharge pipe
  • Broken/stuck float switch
  • Broken impeller

If your system doesn’t have a battery backup, we strongly recommend having one installed. Sump pumps are often needed most in a severe storm where power might get knocked out. Having an alternate power source can avert a disaster.

If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, you can probably handle a basic check and cleaning of your sump pump. But, if you need assistance or run into any problems, it’s best to contact a licensed plumber. It’s also good to have a professional inspection if you’ve recently bought your home.

Maintenance Checklist

There are so many different types of pumps, so it’s best to consult your owner’s manual for specific advice on maintenance and testing. Your owner’s manual can also provide guidance if service is required.  Here are some general steps:

  • Unplug the unit before you begin your inspection
  • Remove the pump from the sump, clean it, and inspect it
  • Check the owner’s manual for maintenance instructions and to determine if the pump bearings require grease or oil
  • Inspect and clean out the sump pit
  • Replace the sump pump
  • Connect the power cord and inspect that the cord and power source are in good shape.
  • Dump a bucket of water into the sump to raise the float and ensure the pump turns on, adjusting the float if required.
  • Check alarm. Not all sump pumps have an alarm that sounds when the pump turns on, but if yours does, be sure it’s working.
  • Battery back-up. Make sure the battery is charged.

Here are a couple of links you might find helpful:

http://www.wikihow.com/Clean-out-a-Sump-Pit
http://homerepair.about.com/od/plumbingrepair/ss/sump_pump_maint_tips.htm

Other Times to Check

In addition to annual maintenance, it’s a good idea to clean the inlet and pump screen quarterly. Also, if there is a threat of a serious storm, it’s worth a double check to make sure the sump pit doesn’t contain any debris that could cause a clog and that the outlet pipe is clear so that water can flow properly.

Taking a little time to inspect your sump pump and other safety features and devices in your home is well worth it. While having proper insurance protection can help repair damage after a disaster, it’s so much better to avoid the disaster if you can with proper prevention.

NOTE: Murphy Insurance Agency makes no representation or warranty regarding the completeness or accuracy of information provided above or via the linked sites. The Agency is in no way liable for any direct or indirect technical or system issues or any consequences arising out of your access to or your use of third-party technologies, websites, information, and programs made available.

Read Other Blog Posts

Drowsy

Preventing Drowsy Driving

Every year, the National Sleep Foundation organizes Drowsy Driving Prevention Week to raise awareness about the dangers of driving while fatigued.
Smoke Detector

Daylight Saving Time Change: A Perfect Reminder to Check Your Smoke and CO Detectors

Daylight savings time is a perfect opportunity to keep your home safe by checking your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. Time change days are memorable markers, making it easy to establish this habit without any extra reminders.
Flooding

Why Flood Insurance is Essential: Lessons from Hurricanes Helene and Milton

The devastating impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton have shown that flood risk isn’t limited to coastal areas. These storms have highlighted a crucial gap that individuals and businesses need to be aware of: flood damage is generally not included in typical home, condo, renters, or commercial property insurance, making a separate flood insurance policy essential for true protection.
Deer

Defensive Driving to Avoid Deer Collisions

With deer mating season in full swing from October through December, drivers face an increased risk of collisions. As deer are more active, especially around dawn and dusk, habitat loss has pushed them closer to roadways. Here’s how defensive driving can help you avoid an accident.
Driving Car

Factors Affecting Your Car Insurance Rate

The cost of auto insurance is influenced by a wide range of factors. Together, these variables shape the overall cost of auto insurance. With this in mind, it can be helpful to better understand how the following elements may impact your rates:
Insurance Policy

Why Personal Liability Insurance is Essential for Homeowners, Condo Owners, and Renters

An essential part of home, condo & renter coverage often overlooked is personal liability insurance, which provides financial protection if you’re legally responsible for causing bodily injury or property damage to another person, both on and off your property.
Spam Phishing Scam

Recognize Spam and Phishing Emails

As more of our daily lives move into cyberspace, hackers, cybercriminals and spam bots may lurk behind every new message that shows up in your inbox. Even robust spam filters may not be able to catch every unwelcome email. Fortunately, you can act as an additional line of defense for yourself and your electronic devices by understanding the warning signs of spam and phishing emails.
Distracted Driving

How Distracted Driving and Texting Impact Your Auto Insurance Premiums

One major reason for auto insurance premiums going up is the rise in distracted driving, especially texting while driving. Distracted driving has become a leading cause of accidents, pushing up costs for insurance companies and, ultimately, leading to higher premiums for all drivers.
Apartment living room

Keep Your Home Safe While on Vacation

Taking a trip and exploring the world is fun, but leaving your home unoccupied has some risks.  Before departing, protect your property from accidents and criminals by considering the following precautions.

Visit Our Homeowners Insurance Page

Homeowners Insurance

At Murphy Insurance, we take great care in assessing your options for homeowners insurance to ensure that you receive the most favorable value. Our dedication to serving you entails collaborating with highly-rated insurance providers and conducting comprehensive assessments of available choices. Our goal is to achieve the ideal equilibrium between affordability and coverage that suits your unique needs. Please let us provide you with a customized homeowners insurance quote.