Is Your Sump Pump Really Doing Its Job?
Here at Quality 1st Basement Systems, we advise our customers in New Jersey to check their sump pumps at least once every season, or sometimes when a big storm is in the forecast. Testing the pump is fairly easy. There are two ways you can test the pump, however, some people prefer one method to the other. One is the do-it-yourself method, which is okay, but the preferred way is to have a highly skilled service technician from Quality 1st Basement Systems do a proper inspection on your system.
The first method is to reach down into the sump and with your finger, lift up the float. (also known simply as the black or white ball that hangs off the sump pump) By lifting the float on the pump, you will trigger the motor on and should hear the impeller (the device that moves the water up the pipe) begin to start. If there’s water in the sump, it will pump it out. If there isn’t enough water in the sump, or none at all, you will hear the motor run and no water swishing around. If there is no water or not enough water, you will not know if that impeller pipe is working properly and it could get stuck, which happens from time to time.
There is also the second method, which is a more thorough way of checking a sump pump. This method consists of pouring water down in the sump using either a garden hose or a couple buckets of water. Basically, what you need to do is pour enough water in the pit so that it triggers the float by itself, engages the pump’s motor, ultimately showing you that the impeller is draining the water in the sump. If the water is pumped out, than you know your pump is working properly. If the water you poured just sits there and you hear the motor on but nothing is getting pumped out, than something is wrong and you should call Quality 1st Basement Systems for assistance.
If these home methods are simply not for you, you can use our annual service program here at Quality 1st. This means we will come out to your New Jersey home and inspect your basement to make sure everything is working properly.
