For many keeping their basement dry and their belongings safe from floodwater has become an ongoing battle. Many home owners require the help of a sump pump to keep there basement dry however the battle to keep the water out does not end with the installation of a basement sump pump .The average sump pump lasts anywhere from five to eight years. But with regular maintenance you can keep your sump pump in tip top shape, and protect your home and belongings with regular maintenance and simple sump pump repair.

The two of the most important things to consider when installing a sump pump are the capacity of the system, which means the amount of water can the sump pit can hold and how quickly can the sump pump can pump the water away; These two factors will determine the size of the sump pump required for the amount of water it needs to remove. When the load is commensurate with the machine’s capacity, your sump pump will be able to operate efficiently, and you will be able to avoid unnecessary and premature sump pump repair along the way.

Maintaining the pump becomes easy when your sump pump is set up properly. The load must be commensurate with the machine’s capacity, so your sump pump will be able to operate efficiently, thereby avoiding unnecessary and premature sump pump repair along the way.

Here are some simple regular sump pump maintenance checks:

1. Make sure the float is working. The float is the ball in the pump that rises and sinks with the water level in the sump pit, and “signals” the motor to turn on and pump out water when it reaches a certain level. Make sure the float moves freely up and down with the water.

2. When the pump is running, make sure the pump is pumping out water. If it’s not, the problem could be caused by a check valve that’s stuck or a clogged water pipe or even an impeller that’s unfastened from its shaft.
3.If the sump pump has been inactive for a few months make sure it’s still in working condition by inducing it to run. Fill the sump pit with enough water to raise the float enough to activate the pump.
4. Make sure that the conditions have not changed since the time you installed your sump pump. Check to see if your sump pit has been filling water more rapidly than it used to. To remedy this, you can either replace your current sump basin with a larger one, or adjust the float or even buy a pump with a larger pumping capacity.
5. Finally, make sure that the dedicated control circuit and circuit breaker you installed for the sump pump are working properly, perhaps even adding a battery backup for the power. By regularly conducting these minor maintenance checks, you’ll be able to catch sump pump problems at the earliest instance, and avoid costly major sump pump repair.