Make sure your sump pump is working properly in your Nashville home to avoid water damage

1/8/2016 (Permalink)

Sump pumps are essential to homes that have lower levels. When homes have levels below the sewer line, it can cause water to collect in inconvenient places such as a basement or lower level utility room. Sump pumps ensure that the water drains properly and does not collect in your home causing water damage. Just like any other device, it is important to make sure that the pump is working properly and maintained. EHow gives a list of actions to take in order to check your sump pump thoroughly before the next storm hits.

1.     Find the outlet pipe that allows the water to drain outside of your home. Make sure that there aren’t any clogs or damages done to the drain making it impossible for water to exit the home and flow away from the foundation.

2.     Locate the sump pump in the lower level of your home and check the inside of it to ensure that the pump is not clogged with debris. Also, make sure that the pump is plugged in. It is electrical, so if it is not plugged in, it will not run when needed.

3.     Since you don’t want to wait for a storm to pass through in order to test out the sump pump, there are other ways to make sure it works before mother nature hits. Slowly pour approximately 5 gallons of water into the pump to simulate if a storm were to hit. As you pour, watch for it to turn on and start pumping the water out of your home. It should start pumping when the water reaches about 8-12 inches below the basement floor.

4.     If your sump pump contains a float in the basin, make sure that it is also functioning properly and not caught on anything while running the test. This float is what lets the sump pump know when the water reaches a certain height and activates the pump.

It’s important to test the sump pump every couple of months to ensure that it is working properly to avoid water damage in your Nashville home. Make any necessary repairs and replacements if there are issues that occur while testing the pump.