{"id":3793,"date":"2018-09-17T10:36:06","date_gmt":"2018-09-17T14:36:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lentheplumber.com\/?p=3793"},"modified":"2020-05-13T13:49:52","modified_gmt":"2020-05-13T17:49:52","slug":"is-your-sump-pump-up-to-snuff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lentheplumber.com\/blog\/is-your-sump-pump-up-to-snuff\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Your<\/strong> Sump Pump Up to Snuff?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Record rain levels<\/a> and a hurricane season that threatens to bring more rain has sump pumps in the Mid-Atlantic working hard to keep your home dry. Here\u2019s what you can do to make sure your sump pump is up for the job.<\/p>\n

What is a sump pump and what does it do?<\/h2>\n

Your sump pump<\/a> is located in your basement and is your first line of defense when it comes to a high water table or flooding. When there is an excessive rain event or rapidly melting snow, your sump pump kicks on automatically to pump water away from your home several feet from the foundation.<\/p>\n

How to maintain your sump pump<\/h2>\n

Most homeowners don\u2019t think about the job their sump pump is doing until they find themselves ankle deep in water inside their \u00a0basement. Simple preventative care can ensure your sump pump is in good working order and ready to keep your home safe when heavy rain is in the forecast for the Maryland, Virginia and Philadelphia areas.<\/p>\n

Here are some things you can do to maintain your sump pump:<\/p>\n

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  1. Check to make sure there is power running to the pump\u2019s circuit. All sump pumps work off of a GFCI electrical connection. Making sure that connection is working is key to keeping a sump pump powered up.<\/li>\n
  2. Be sure the sump pump is upright and not leaning. Vibrations can sometimes cause a sump pump to tilt.<\/li>\n
  3. Remove the submersible pump from the pit and clean the grate at the bottom to prevent debris from clogging the system.<\/li>\n
  4. Clear anything that could be blocking the outlet pipes that dispense the water from the sump pump to the exterior.<\/li>\n
  5. Be sure the exterior pipes are draining water from the pump at least 20 feet from your foundation.<\/li>\n
  6. Check for any debris that might block your discharge line.<\/li>\n
  7. Conduct a manual test<\/a> to be sure the pump operates properly.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n