Most basements in the Washington DC-Baltimore, Maryland area have a sump pump. Our area generally gets a lot of rain in the spring and summer months and our fair share of winter snow and ice. Sump pumps are the first line of defense to keep water out of your basement and to protect your possessions from excessive water damage.
That’s why we(Durance Plumbing) recommend that you check your sump pump at least once a year to be sure that all the components are intact and the pump doesn’t show any extraordinary wear. A basement sump pump should always be covered, not only to keep debris from falling into it, but to keep radon and bad odors from entering your home.
What You Should Look For When Inspecting Your Sump Pump?
- First you want to determine if the well is dry, if not it may mean that your pump is not working properly.
- Secondly you want to check for any debris that may have fallen into the well, it should be cleaned out.
- You also want to test the pump by adding water to to the sump to make sure the float works properly and that the motor is not running abnormally.
- You then want to make sure that the check valve is working and that the pump drains the well quickly.
- You also may want to consider adding a water sensor to the sump pump to notify your security system if water starts to overflow the sump well. Contact your security sytem company to have one installed.
At times, we may recommend an increase in the horsepower rating of your current sump pump, particularly if it’s determined that the current model is not doing an efficient job of getting the water out and away from your home.
If your sump pump failed during hurricane Sandy and you need it replaced, contact the Durance Plumbing professionals at (301) 270-6663. Our experts can evaluate, replace or repair your sump pump. If you haven’t checked your sump pump in a while, don’t hesitate any longer, because if there’s one thing you can be assured of is that’s it’s going to rain again! 