When so much rests on one appliance, it pays to keep it in good working order. Your sump pump is a hardworking appliance, but there are a few simple things you can do to keep it in good repair.
Install a Sump Pit Cover
Covering your sump pit is not only good for your sump pump, it is better for you! The sump pit may not be huge, but it still presents a risk to anyone moving around your basement. Covering the sump pit will not only remove a tripping or falling hazard from your home but can help to lower the risk of serious clogs and damage to your sump pump.
If your basement floods, any loose debris picked up by the water—for example, pieces of fabric, twine, cables, or paper—will eventually be carried to the sump pit as the water is drained. A sump pit cover will prevent these from coming into contact with your pump directly. As such, that will help avoid clogs, blockages, and damage as the moving parts of the pump become tangled or smothered.
Schedule Regular Maintenance
Scheduling a regular maintenance appointment for your property as a whole is a good idea. Once a year is the recommended interval for maintenance work and checks, and it’s usually best to schedule it for the fall. Having your maintenance professional also assess your sump pump (and repair any minor issues they may find) will go a long way, especially in a storm.
The floating switch, for example, is one of the most fragile parts of a sump pump. If it is damaged in any way, it can stick or lag in a way that has real consequences for your basement. As well as keeping your sump pump ticking, regular maintenance will alert you to the end of your sump pump’s lifespan. This will give you time to prepare to buy a replacement.
Invest in a Backup Pump
This measure will do more to protect you and your home from sump pump failure than anything else, but it is nonetheless a sensible choice. A backup pump that is powered by a battery or emergency generator can be a real lifesaver if a big storm rolls in and knocks out the power in your area while it’s raining.
These systems come in many shapes and sizes, but the best are connected to the main pump in a way that ensures that they activate automatically when needed. This means you don’t have to worry about getting down to the basement in the dark to turn on your backup power supply or sump pump. More importantly, it means you will not have to deal with a flooded basement when the power comes back on!