A sump pump is an essential part of your house that helps keep rain and groundwater from getting into your basement. So, you need to maintain your sump pump regularly to keep it functioning correctly. Otherwise, your basement can get flooded when there is heavy rainfall.

Your sump pump will work harder if you live in a place with a lot of snow or rain, and it might need maintenance every three months. However, if you apply some sump pump maintenance tips, then you may not need to do these hassles. You can apply the maintenance tips discussed here to make sure that your sump pump continues to function.

Sump Pump Maintenance Tips That You Should Follow

A lot of the necessary cleaning and maintenance for the sump pump should be handled by a professional company. However, you might do the below things by yourself to maintain your sump pump properly. Keep in mind that you should always unplug the sump pump while cleaning it.

  • Remove any large or loose debris from the sump pump basin
  • Check the status of the sump pump on a regular basis
  • Remove the sump pump and carefully check for rust or other damage
  • Thoroughly clean your sump pump as required and clean the sump pit on a regular basis
  • Lubricate pump bearings if suggested by the manufacturer
  • Make sure that your sump pump is properly covered
  • Check the outside discharge line and surrounding space
  • Consider that you get a backup sump pump
  • Inspect the sump pump to ensure it functions properly

Know the Signs of a Faulty Sump Pump

Catching the problem early, particularly when it comes to your house’s sump pump, can be tricky. If you have a faulty sump pump, then you will have to change it more quickly than the average lasting time. The signs of a faulty sump pump are given below:

Strange Sounds

This is probably the easiest to identify of all sump pump issues, as you can detect it without even knowing about it. Since sump pumps are typically quite quiet, any noise that is louder than a gentle humming may indicate a more serious issue. It might be a sign that the motor has a problem, but more often than not, it is the result of worn-out or broken parts.

A professional company will be able to suggest how this issue can be fixed. Sometimes a quick repair task will be sufficient, but a whole sump pump replacement part might be needed.

Fails to Turn On

If your sump does not turn on, then it could be a lot of things. If you are lucky, it’s something that will not need professional sump pump repair. As the float switch may have only been entangled in the sump basin, make sure to first check to see whether it is stuck.

The brackets that hold the float switch on some sump pumps might break and be the cause of failure. It's time for a replacement if neither seems to fix the issue.

Visible Corrosion

Corrosion is a possibility since sump pumps use water in their operation. Most of the time, corrosion in a sump pump is because of a corroded battery or bacteria. After then, it feeds off the iron in the water, initially generating coloring and, if left untreated, the possibility of system obstructions.