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As the East Coast has had torrential downpours due to
Hurricane Sandy this week, sump pumps have been working overtime to keep
millions of basements from flooding. A working sump pump can save you from
thousands of dollars in damages and the headache of a flooded basement. Let’s
take a look at how the sump pump works and what you can do to make sure that it
will continue to work.
How Sump
Pumps Work
A sump pump is a small pump installed in the lowest part of
a basement or crawlspace. Its job is to help keep the area under the building
dry and prevent it from flooding. As water flows through drains, the sump pump
pumps that water away from the building.
Sump Pump
Maintenance
The number one rule with sump pump maintenance is
to make sure your pump is turned on! The pump will do no good in protecting your
basement from water if it is off. By routinely taking a few minutes to make
sure your sump pump is in good working order, especially before a storm
approaches, you can keep your basement dry. Once you verify that the pump is
turned on, check the cord for any wear-and-tear and the outlet to make sure it
is working. Next, ensure that the pump is upright. If the pump is tilted to one
side or another, it can jam and cease to work. Test out your sump pump. Pour a
bucket of water into the pit and, if the pump does not quickly drain the water,
have it serviced. After you have done
this, clean the grate on the bottom of the pump and remove any debris in the
vent hole. Finally, ensure that the outlet pipes are tight joined together and
draining out at least 20 feet from your foundation.
By doing just a little extra maintenance and
inspection on your sump pump, you can insure that your basement will stay dry
during the most severe rainstorms.
From your post I assess that basements can quickly fill with water and ruins carpet, furniture, drywall and everything else so it is extremely important to me to have a good sump pump system in my home.
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