The snowy British Columbia winters mean dealing with lots of melt and runoff, and this can easily lead to your basement or crawl space getting flooded. Sump pumps are the best option to prevent this from happening, but it is essential that you check your pump to make sure it is ready to handle all of that water. With that in mind, here is a quick overview of everything you need to know and do to make sure your sump pump is ready for winter.
Testing a Sump Pump
Testing to make sure your sump pump is working correctly only takes a few minutes and is something we recommend that you do at least once every month or two. Testing the pump involves filling up the sump basin will enough water to trigger the unit to start running. The easiest way to do this is to run a garden hose down to the basin, but you can also simply fill up a couple of buckets with water. Keep filling up the basin until the float rises or the trigger switch activates to turn the pump on.
Once the pump turns on, listen for any unusual sounds or any other signs that may indicate it isn’t working correctly. If the pump doesn’t turn on or it makes a humming noise when it tries to start, you will either need to have it repaired or replaced.
The Importance of Sump Pump Maintenance
Sump pumps should always be fully inspected and maintained at least once a year and possibly as often as every four to six months if it gets a lot of use. The pump itself needs to be fully cleaned and checked for any signs of damage, and the basin itself should also be cleaned out.
One of the most important parts of sump pump maintenance is cleaning the intake screen. This screen works to keep dirt, gravel, and debris from getting sucked inside and potentially damaging the pump. Over time, the screen can become clogged. This can drastically reduce how much water the unit can pump at a time or cause it to stop pumping altogether if the screen is completely clogged.
If you need any sump pump services in Duncan or the Victoria area, Gideon Plumbing is here to help. We offer an extensive range of plumbing, drain cleaning, sewer, and water line services, and we work on sump pumps, water heaters, garbage disposals, water softeners, and water filtration systems. Our team can also help with plumbing fixture installation and repairs, repiping, gas line services, leak detection, and much more. To have your sump pump inspected and maintained or if you need any other plumbing service, give us a call today.