Around this time of year we start experiencing unexpected bouts of rain. Is your sump pump going to sink or swim?
Sump pumps can quickly get overwhelmed from the massive amounts of water they are trying to keep up with. There are numerous reasons why sump pumps fail causing homes to take on water.
- Size of the sump pump is too small to keep up with the amount of water it is taking on.
- The sump pump is cheap and and gets overworked with the amount of energy it has to put out.
- The home losses power from a power outage.
- Cut off from electricity supply - power cord becomes loose or unplugged or the control switch is turned off.
- The motor burns out.
- There is one one in the home and it becomes overworked because the home should have more than one.
It is recommended that you inspect your sump pump before the rain comes our way. To ensure that your sump pump is working properly you can do the following things.
- Locate the outside pipe that catches water as it drains from the pump. This can often get clogged. Remove any debris to get the pipe from clogging.
- Check the pumps cords. This pump cord plugs into the back of the float cord plug. Pull the plugs from the outlet and separate them. Fist thing to do is only plug the pump cord back into the outlet. You should hear the pump running after this is done. Unplug the pump and plug the cords back in the wall with the float first then the pump cord plugged into the back of the float pump.
- Remove the sump pump lid cover. Slowly pour water into the crock while watching the switch. It should start to turn on as the sump takes on water. The sump will start to pump water from the crock. If it does not contact a plumber to inspect your sump and offer guidance.
- You can also locate the float arm on the side of the pump. List the float arm and it should start pumping water. This is an indicator that your pump is running.
- If at some point you hear a consistent humming noise when the pump is plugged into the outlet it can be an indicator that your pump is dead. Perform these test methods to verify and then contact a plumber for replacement.
By purchasing a backup system you can keep the water from taking over your home in the event you loose power. There are a few types of backup systems you can choose from so do your research or contact a plumber to see which system is best suited for you.
- Battery backup
- Generator powered backup
- Water powered backup
Though backup systems are helpful you can still take additional preventative measures by obtaining an alert system if the sump pump or backup system fails.
- Alarm systems have a audible alarm that will sound off when water reaches rises to high. These can be found at your local hardware store or online.
It is not a bad idea to keep a spare pump laying around in case of emergencies. Make sure your spare is the same fit for the current crock you have.
To prevent an out of pocket expense be sure to have water backup coverage added to
your insurance policy. Check out http://blogsbynikiramirez.blogspot.com/2014/03/understand-sump-pump-overflow-sump-pump.html
If your home takes on water contact the water damage professionals at Rainbow International to assist with your cleanup - 708-460-0911. Water can only be extracted after power has been restored. Because the overflowing water has contaminants it is best to have a restoration company perform the cleanup.Take a look at Rainbow's tips on what to do if your home takes on water: http://blogsbynikiramirez.blogspot.com/2014/07/your-home-has-taken-on-water-after.html
