Sump Pump Maintenance before a Thunderstorm

6/26/2019 (Permalink)

Maintenance on your sump pump can help avoid a wet basement during a thunderstorm.

Thunderstorms are looming over the Cedar Valley

Summer is starting off with Scattered Thunderstorms according to the weather forecast for Waterloo, IA, and Cedar Falls, IA. Hopefully, that doesn’t ruin too much of our summer plans and to make sure nothing worsens… like a flooded basement… SERVPRO of Black Hawk County wants to remind you to check your sump pump.

SUMP PUMP MAINTENANCE CAN SAVE YOU FROM A RUINED SUMMER

Thunderstorms can bring forth rain, floods, strong winds, hail, tornadoes, and of course lighting. Here are a few tips on some preventative things you can do before a thunderstorm to try to avoid a flooded basement due to a sump pump failure.

• Check to see if the floatation device is not lodged from debris build-up or simply wearing out.
• Remove debris, especially after heavy rainfall.
• Test the floatation device by pouring water into the sump basin to trigger the pump. The float should move freely and the sump pump will activate when the water gets high enough. Let the pump remove most of the water and make sure it shuts off when the water is only a few inches deep.
• Repeat this test one more time.
• If the pump fails to operate smoothly, the float switch or entire pump may require repair or replacement
• Check to see that the intake screen or discharge pipe is not clogged.
• Purchase a battery-operated pump or have a generator to use if the pump were to stop due to power failure.
• Regularly check on your sump pump.

PURCHASE A BATTERY-OPERATED PUMP OR HAVE A GENERATOR IN CASE OF POWER FAILURE.

Remember that during a thunderstorm, please avoid touching metal and water since electricity can travel through. We hope this helps keep your basement dry but if your basement does get wet or currently has some water damage, please give us a call at (319) 268-1521 and we will make it “Like it never even happened.”