Double checking your sump pump with spring rains

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How to better protect yourself… 

No matter what the age of your home may be, double checking your sump pit and pump during the spring rain season is especially important. With the emergence of the spring season also comes excess storms and lightning strikes. In the event of a storm, it is important and easy to take a couple minutes of your time to double check the water levels of your sump pit to make sure water levels do not get too high.

A typical sump pit with a pump will hold roughly 6-8 inches of water before the sump pump will turn on and pump the water out. If the pit is more than ½ full or the pump is fully submerged by water, and the pump is not removing the water, then there is an issue. If the pump is not turning on, make sure debris is not causing the float on the side of the pump to stick. Also be sure to check that the GFCI, or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, electrical outlet has not tripped.

For homes not equipped with a pump, water should be evacuated by pail or shop vac. Please note: some water at any given time in the pit is normal. If the pit is ½ full of water or greater, you will need to remove it or risk the pit backing up. You can check pumps monthly by pouring a five gallon bucket of water into the pit to ensure the seals do not dry out and the pump is functioning correctly. This will save you any unnecessary stress in the event of a storm.

Inexpensive/ expensive add on’s……..

To help keep an eye on this, most home improvement stores will carry devices called “flood alerts” or “water sensors". These are inexpensive audible alarms that, when wet, make a loud chirp or beep similar to that of a smoke detector. Most of these run off a 9-volt battery and have a wire with a water sensor on the end. These devices can be purchased for as little as $12 and can be the difference between a wet or dry basement. There are other more expensive options like a back-up sump pump, however these can cost hundreds of dollars, require additional maintenance and the recharging of batteries.

Checking the GFCI (GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERUPTERS) which the outlet the sump pump is plugged into……………..

As previously mentioned, checking the GFCI outlet in which the sump pump is plugged into during the outbreak of a severe weather storm or lightning strike is extremely important. Depending upon the outlet, the illuminated GFCI outlet light may be on or off, indicating that it has been tripped. To reset the outlet, simply press firmly on the reset side of the plug. When checking the pump monthly, it’s a good practice to make sure the pump has power and the outlet has not tripped. A tripped outlet will not provide electricity the pump needs to function.

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Save Your Property from Improper Drainage this Spring!

Know anyone who's interested in buying a home? If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our 7 new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

As Director of Production for Charleston Homes, I wanted to speak with you about the settling that can occur around the “over-dig” of your foundation and the proper placement of downspout extenders.

If you aren’t familiar with what the “over-dig” of your home’s foundation is, it is simply the 2 ½ foot area that was excavated around your foundation and then put back. Since the dirt was compacted back after construction, the dirt is never as solid as it originally was. If you have lived in your home for a number of years already, you have noticed this.

With the spring season, rain is usually imminent. This makes it important to ensure that this area is filled in to avoid excess water from soaking into your drain tiles. You don’t want to overload drain tiles if you don’t have to! To prevent this from happening, we need to make sure that the over-dig has a steady decline moving away from the foundation.

To further prevent drainage from overloading your drain tiles, a downspout extender is an inexpensive way to properly drain your property. Do be aware that downspout extenders have the tendency to break due to the wind – check it periodically to make sure it is still properly attached. If a large rainstorm hits, your roof could drain hundreds of gallons of water, making it increasingly important that your downspout extender is diverting that water away from your property. 

If you have any questions or additional information, please visit our website or one of our model locations. Thanks and have a great day!