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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