Spring is a wet season in most places, and New England is no exception. With melting snow and heavy rain, it’s not unusual for homeowners to experience basement flooding. At Global Basement Waterproofing, keeping water out of your basement is what we do. We have multiple methods to help keep your basement dry, but one of the most effective ways is installing sump pumps in MA. But the high quantities of water in the spring can be tough on even the best sump pumps.
Here’s what you should do to ensure that sump pumps in MA continue to work through a wet spring.
Clean the Sump Pit
The condition of your sump pit affects how effectively the pump will work. If it’s full of muck and debris, that’s going to clog up your pump and keep it from working properly. The fastest and easiest way to clean out the pit is with a wet/dry vacuum. The vacuum will suck up any debris or excess water so you can get a better look at the pump and check that everything is okay.
Test Your Pump
Once the pit is clear, it’s time to test your pump. A simple way to test it is to fill a 5-gallon bucket with water and pour it into the pit. The water should trigger the float switch and activate the pump. Within a few minutes, the pump should drain the water and then shut itself off. If things don’t go as expected, call your sump pump installer to take a look. If the pump doesn’t activate, you could be dealing with a flooded basement the next time it rains. On the other hand, if the pump doesn’t automatically shut off, the motor can burn out.
Check Your Backup
The final step is to check your backup. Not everyone needs to install a backup, but if your basement gets very wet, you should have one. The backup runs on a battery, so you still have a working sump pump when the power goes out. The last thing you want to deal with during a power outage is a flooded basement. You’ll want to check that the battery is charged and pump itself is in good working order.
