In June 2013, Calgary experienced a massive flood as a result of heavy rainfall. No homes or plumbing systems along the Bow River could withstand the consequences of the natural disaster. It was a $5 billion flood that jolted many local Calgary plumbers to remind homeowners of the importance of their sump pumps and flood mitigation plans. While sump pump maintenance and inspections could not stop the natural forces of nature, they could stop excess water from entering your basement as spring comes into fruition.
Your sump pump is your first line of defense against flooding and water damage in your home. Sump pumps are out of sight, which usually means they’re out of mind. But this spring, you have much more exciting things to spend money on than recovering a flooded basement. That's why Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Calgary is here to help you ensure that your sump pump is ready to properly direct water away from your home in the case of extreme or heavy rainfall.
As the old saying goes, April showers bring May flowers. However, if you neglect sump pump inspection and maintenance, you could be facing issues in the early summer. While our licensed plumbers are always available to help you with essential sump pump maintenance tasks, we want to give you a guide on how to do it yourself. Keep reading as we go through the basics of home inspections, how the sump pump works, and how to maintain it.
Everything You Need to Know About Sump Pump Operation
Many homeowners use sump pumps to manage water flow and water levels to prevent flooding in crawl spaces or basements. As a result of the 2013 flood, it's an essential part of many Calgary homeowners' plumbing systems. But how do they work? You must know how they operate to ensure your sump pump is properly maintained.
The main goal of a sump pump is to direct excess groundwater away from your home's foundation. The device itself is installed into a sump pit at the lowest part of a basement. The pit collects the excess water from the area where it is installed.
The sump pump has a float switch or a pressure sensor that closely monitors the rising water level. When the water reaches a certain threshold, the pump springs into action and begins pumping the water collected in the pit away from your home's foundation to a nearby storm drain, ditch, or lawn.
With the precipitation and snowmelt in our beautiful Calgary springs, you can probably see why sump pump inspection and sump pump maintenance are crucial. While that snowmelt makes for great puddles for your little ones to splash in, it also creates the perfect opportunity for water to collect near your home's foundation and cause flooding in your home. Let's move on to how to check your sump pump.
Fundamental Aspects of a Sump Pump
There are seven key components of sump pumps that homeowners should be aware of. There is the:
- Sump pit
- Float switch
- Motor
- Impeller
- Discharge line
- Check valve
- Power source
Each component plays a fundamental role in the sump pump's operation, so knowing the terminology of your sump pump will ensure that you know where to look for a sump pump inspection and what to pay attention to in your sump pump maintenance.
Quarterly Sump Pump Inspection
When it comes to a sump pump inspection, the first thing to do is ensure that it is plugged into a power source. The sump pump requires an adequate amount of power to function, and any disruption to the power supply, be it from power outages or an inadequate power supply, can compromise the functionality of the system and the integrity of your home. If necessary, we highly recommend installing a backup power source if you are concerned.
Once you've verified that the sump pump is plugged in, test the system for functionality by slowly pouring water into the sump pit to see if it activates and properly drains water. If it doesn't, you may require a sump pump repair.
Next, you will want to inspect and clean the inlet screen. The sump pump inlet screen is located at the bottom of the pit, so you will need some gloves to reach it. The filter screen is designed to filter out debris that could clog the system altogether. Prolong the lifespan of your sump pump by cleaning this inlet screen quarterly. Any obstructions in the inlet screen could impede the system, leading to water backflow.
Annual Sump Pump Maintenance
Now that you're acquainted with where your sump pit is and how to implement a sump pump inspection into your routine, we can go into annual sump pump maintenance that you can do to ensure that your pump continues to function without a hitch. First, you will want to clean the exterior of the device by gently cleaning it with a garden hose to remove dirt, sludge, and mineral buildup.
If there is standing water in to sump pump pit, we encourage you to utilize a shop vac to suck up this excess water. There's no need for it to be sitting there waiting for a hazard, so remove it as quickly as possible. The next part of your sump pump maintenance is actually one of the most common reasons for pump failure: a clogged discharge line.
The discharge line operates like your home's drain pipes, directing water away from your home and into a designated drainage area outside. If the pump's discharge line is clogged, you can clean it using a snake or call a plumber for sump pump services.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing is Here to Help with Your Calgary Sump Pump Inspection and Sump Pump Maintenance
We want you to enjoy the beauty of the spring and witness the dreary snow melt, rather than fear what it will do to your home. That's why at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Calgary, we wanted to equip you with the basics of a sump pump inspection and sump pump maintenance. We understand that not every homeowner is willing (or wanting) to carry out regular maintenance for sump pumps on their own. That's why we offer a range of services to ensure that yours is in working order for the wet season ahead.
Whether you need sump pump installation, replacement, or repair, we're happy to assist in any way necessary. Contact us to get started on your sump pump inspection and maintenance in Calgary or the nearby areas of Chestermere and Haysboro.
