subject: Maintain A Sump Pump In Good Working Condition [print this page] A sump pump is basically a machine that requires some basic maintenance at a regular interval of time. Some problems might occur in a machine anytime. So for preventing these problems, you need to take care of your machine.
If you live on a low elevation area or an area with a high water table then you have probably experienced your share of standing water or maybe flooding during significant rains.
The water entering this way might cause many harm to your house like it can damage the foundation of your house or might damage the inner portions of your home. Therefore, always invest in a quality sump pump and avoid such problems from occurring.
The basic working of a sump pumps is similar to that of your septic tank as both of them take out water from your house with the help of series of pipes and tiles. However, there are few differences in between them. In a sump pump, tile drains wrap a house from all the sides and water from the rainfall or any other source flow through this. When this tile gets full, the water is redirected to a central location called as a sump that is situated in your basement.
The sump is basically a little well and it's located in that hole in the sub-floor of your basement. However, if the sump becomes full then that water will either overflow into your basement or that tile surrounding your house will just remain filled with water. That's why you need a good sump pump. When the water in the sump reaches a critical level, the sump pump kicks on automatically and starts pumping it away from your house.
One of the most common pump repairs is the float trigger. When the float reaches a certain level it activates the pump. However, over time the float trigger can burn out and need to be replaced. It's a good idea to make certain that there's no debris in the sump and pour some extra water in every few months to make sure the float trigger responds.
You should try to run it occasionally so that it does not get blocked. If you want to prevent unnecessary pump repairs, pour water into the well after a fixed interval of time. It is quite important during dry season. You should activate the pump at least once in a week.
Generally, other than complete system failure or poor installation, these are the 2 biggest reasons that folks have to pay money for sump pump repairs. So if you frequently check the float trigger and activate the pump, you shouldn't have any problems with your sump pump.
