If you have flood resistant equipment in your home, it’s important to ensure that it works properly. You might be looking for how to test your sump pump, for example, and ensuring that it’s ready for heavy rains and other potential problems and can keep your basement or crawl space dry.
Below we’ve listed some steps for testing your sump pump. If you’d like to find out more, give our professional plumbers a call.
Testing Your Sump Pump – The Process
1) Find The Sump Pump. Your sump pump is usually located somewhere in your basement or crawl space, generally in a pit or a basin. You can have a look at your home’s blueprint, or reach out to a plumbing professional if you have trouble finding it.
2) Fill The Pit. Get a bucket or container of water, and slowly pour it into the pit until the sensor causes the sump pump to be activated. In essence, what you’re doing is simulating a flood in your basement to trigger the pump.
3) Observe The Pump Working. When your pour water into the pit, as it rises, the pump should activate and begin pumping water out. You should be able to hear the water and see it being discharged from the pipe outside.
4) Check the Discharge Line. Observe that water is being dissipated away from your home’s foundation, and that the discharge outlet doesn’t have anything blocking the flow.
5) Check The Check Valve. Once the pump shuts off, the check valve activates to prevent water from flowing back into the pit. Check to make sure that there isn’t any water going back into the pit.
6) Repeat Once A Year. You should be checking your sump pump’s operation on an annual basis, and possibly after you have excessive rain and flooding.
If you notice any problems while testing your sump pump, such as the pump not working or a clog in the line, you should address the problem before the next heavy rainfall. If you still need help in learning how to test your sump pump, a plumbing professional can help you with that too.
If you are a South Jersey homeowner, the professionals at Maffet Plumbing can inspect and repair your sump pump for you, and we’re ready to handle the project and get your home ready for the next rainfall. Reach out to us anytime, and we’ll be happy to help keep your home’s basement safe and dry!
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