What to Expect from a Sump Pump Tune Up

sump pump tune upSump Pump Tune Up

The coming of the wet seasons means heavy rains. For many homeowners, torrential rain means being vigilant about their sump pumps lest the heavy rainfall results in the flooding of the basement.

Sump pumps aren’t infallible machines. In fact, they are subject to quite a number of problems. If you don’t want to end up with a flooded basement, you should ensure that your sump pump receives its annual tune up.

What it Involves

If you understand how important maintaining your sump pump is, you know that an annual tune up is non-negotiable. You only spend a few dollars to prevent thousands of dollars’ worth of damage. Tune ups involve the following:

  1. Dismounting and remounting

This process is important to ensure that the pump is in the best position for optimal performance. This should be done only by a licensed professional. It takes a lot of training and experience to understand how to position the pump for the best performance.

  1. Testing of the backup devices

Having a battery backup system is a great investment. It can give you peace of mind knowing that a backup system will take over when the primary sump pump is not working for any reason. However, your backup system may fail every once in a while.

Testing the backup devices ensures that the backup system is working properly. Alarm systems, battery backup pumps and other components of the backup system are all tested.

  1. Inspecting functionality

This involves checking the motor and float of the primary sump pump to ensure that they are working properly. The inspector will check the position of the float and reposition it if need be. They will also inspect and test the motor to ensure that there are no mechanical problems. They will then test the pump to ensure that it is functioning at optimum.

  1. Ten–point foundation inspection

This inspection is carried out on your foundation. The inspection is carried out to identify any foundation issues that may need your attention.

  1. Cleaning and refitting valves

This is important to ensure that the pump remains efficient. An efficient pump is able to perform its tasks better while consuming less energy. You will not only be sure of your pump being able to keep your basement dry but also save on your energy bills.

  1. Flushing

This ensures that the pump and the discharge line are free of debris or anything that could result in clogging. This prevents mechanical damage to the pump.