One of the greatest fears that many homeowners have is the fear of a flooded basement. If your basement becomes flooded, it can lead to serious damage and a variety of problems in many areas of your home, such as water stains or damage, wood rot and structural damage, and mold growth. Wet basements can develop over time, or can occur very suddenly if there is a big rain or if your foundation has developed cracks. One of the best ways to defend against a wet basement, is to insure that your interior drainage system and sump pump are functioning properly.
A good interior drainage system will collect the water that has seeped into your basement and direct it to the sump pump, which will then pump the water out of your basement and away from your foundation. To keep your home dry and safe, test your sump pump regularly to make sure that it is running smoothly. Checking your sump pump will keep your home prepared, just in case water finds its way inside.
But how does one go about testing their sump pump, you might wonder? Testing the sump pump is actually a relatively simple process; it merely requires a little time and attention. The first step is to check the electrical connections. It is best to have your sump pump on a separate circuit. Make sure that the installed circuit breaker is the correct size.The sump pump should be securely plugged in and the circuit should have power.
Next, locate the float switch and ensure that it is able to move freely and does not catch on anything. Use a bucket or hose to slowly fill the sump pit with water until the pump turns, being careful to observe how much water is in the basin when it comes on. If there is not very much water before the pump turns on, then your float witch is most likely set to low and the pump is probably turning on and off quite often. This should be adjusted, as such unnecessary frequent use will cause the motor to burn out very quickly. On the other hand, if the sump basin is nearly full and the water is almost flowing over the drain tiles that connect to the basin, your float switch is set too high. Lower the float switch to prevent overflow in heavy storms.
The familiar “clunk” sound that the sump pump makes is the sign that it is shutting off. It is the sound of the check valve, located in the discharge pipe, closing off. This flap-like device opens to let water out and closes when the water flow stops. Make sure your check valve works by observing whether or not
If you have tested your sump pump and found that it is not functioning properly, it may be time to invest in an upgrade. United Structural Systems offers a great variety of sump pumps, both primary and battery back-up sump pumps. If your home is older, there is a good chance that your sump pump is also quite old and could use updating. Or maybe there is something wrong with your sump pump, but you don’t think it needs to be replaced quite yet. If this is the case, United can provide you with sump pump repair services to get your system up and running as if it were brand new. Our professional repair team know sump pumps in and out and will make sure that you get your money’s worth.
These are the basic steps to testing your sump pump to make sure that it can keep up with the unpredictable weather conditions in the Chicago area. If you would like to have your sump pump professionally inspected instead, come to United Structural Systems, Our team is experienced in basement waterproofing and will provide you with quality and affordable services in sump pump repair, inspection, or installation. Contact us today for more information!
