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If your home is not equipped with a sump pump, make this year the time to change that. Flooding is becoming more common and, if climate scientists and insurance models are correct, that trend is only going to continue. Every year – particularly in spring – a growing number of homes experience flooded basements as heavy rainfall gets more severe and frequent.
Homes with working sump pumps are far less likely to experience expensive flooding damage as these units are designed specifically to eliminate excess rainwater before it can make its way into the basement. This equipment is a great investment, as well as low-maintenance, While we recommend that you have yours checked by one of our experienced plumbers once every spring, you can keep an eye on it yourself throughout the rest of the year and give us a call only if you have a question or spot a problem.
What Goes Into a Professional Sump Pump Checkup?
Our experienced plumbing technicians will take great care to make sure your sump pump is ready for everything spring has in store. This means that they will perform several checks and inspections as well as tests. You’ll also receive helpful advice and suggestions where appropriate. Steps our technicians will make during a checkup include the following:
- Checking your discharge pipes – We’ll check to make sure your discharge pipes aren’t clogged with visible or hidden debris and are still in great condition without cracks and leaks. If clogs are found, they’ll be cleaned out for you.
- Inspecting the sump pump itself – Our experts will remove the submersible pump cover and conduct an inspection on the entire unit to spot any indication of potential problems. Any necessary adjustments will be made, and if repairs are required, they will be recommended and conducted with your approval. The pump will then be replaced into the pit.
- Testing the sump pump – Though this step should be completed quarterly, our technician will have you covered for the spring and will show you how to do it during the rest of the year as it is extremely simple to do. This test lets you know that when spring showers turn into heavy rain, you’ll be covered and your basement will be dry.
Recommended Replacements And Upgrades
There are some things that get better with age. Sump pumps, however, are not among them. You may feel as comfortable with your old sump pump as you do with that old pair of shoes, but keep in mind that after a certain age your equipment (and likely your ancient shoes) may no longer provide you with the support you need. The average lifespan of a sump pump is about ten years.
If your old sump pump is still performing like new, our plumbing technician will let you know. At the same time, if that old unit is running on borrowed time, the tech can make some excellent suggestions to replace it.
Regardless of the age of your sump pump, it’s likely wise to consider upgrading to add a battery backup. After all, power failures are common when the worst storms come pouring down. The last thing you’ll want to do is put all your hopes for saving your basement in a sump pump that will shut down in a power outage. A backup battery is a smart investment that can save you thousands of dollars in damage, not to mention stress. Let us know that you want a sump pump battery backup installed when you book a maintenance checkup for your unit, to give yourself the comfort of knowing your basement will be dry even when storms put out the lights.
Ready For Spring? Give us a Call
Get your sump pump checked before springtime kicks into high gear. Call McLoughlin Plumbing, Heating and Cooling’s at 610-624-8037 to arrange for an expert plumbing technician to clean, inspect and test your sump pump and install a backup battery if you don’t yet have one.
