HomeResidential PlumbingCommercial PlumbingServicesFAQ'sTestimonialsAbout UsContact Us Specials

Licensed Master
Plumber # 8377

For Your Protection, the Law Requires That A Licensed Plumber Perform Most Plumbing Work. Check To Make Sure That You Are Dealing With A Qualified Professional Licensed by the State of Michigan

For Personal Service and the Right Advice Call Mitch @ 734.216.0777

sump pump repair saline
sump pump repair ann arbor

Sump Pump Repair & Sump Pump Installation

A sump pump is usually an electric pump that is placed in the basement of a home, and used to pump water from the basement to outside the home.  Sometimes sump pumps drain the water into the house's drainage pipe system, and sometimes they simply pump the water outside.

Sump pumps normally work in combination with a sump pit. The sump pit is simply a hole dug into the ground, generally in the basement of a house, which allows water to collect into it. The sump pump then pumps the water out of that sump pit hole.A sump pump is most often used in cases where the house's basement is below the water table level, and in places where flooding is common. Sometimes sump pumps are also used if the bottom level of a house is below sewer lines.

Sump pumps can be useful, particularly as a precaution, in almost any area though, for all homes which have basements. When rain comes and the soil around your home's foundation gets wet, that water can leak into the basement. And even just an inch or so of water on the basement floor can do extensive damage that's quite expensive as well.

It's critical for the sump pump to always be working however, otherwise the sump pit can overflow. So a backup power supply system is needed just in case the primary power system for the sump pump fails or is out for a long period of time. Many sump pumps actually come with built in backup battery supplies these days.

Do It Yourself Sump Pump Maintenance

plumbing washtenaw county

Keeping your basement dry and your basement belongings safe from floodwater is an ongoing battle. It does not end after you’ve installed a sump pump that works. The average life span of sump pumps is anywhere between five to eight years. Here are some simple things to remember when you do your regular sump pump maintenance checks:

1. Check to see if the float is working. The float is the ball in the pump that rises and sinks with the water level in the sump pit, and “signals” the motor to pump out water when it reaches a certain level. Make sure that it moves freely up and down with the water.

2. When the motor is on and the pump is running, examine the outside pump to see if it is pumping out water. If it’s not, the problem could be caused by a check valve that’s stuck, a clogged water pipe or an impeller that’s was unfastened from its shaft.

3. Has the sump pump been inactive for a few months? Make sure it’s still in working condition by inducing it to run. Pour enough water into the sump pit to raise the float enough to activate the water.

4. Conditions may have changed from the time you installed your sump pit. Check to see if your sump pit has been filling water more quickly than it used to. In which case the amount of water seeping in could have increased to a level that’s more than your sump pit can take. To remedy this, you can either replace your current sump basin with a larger one, or have an adjustable float switch installed. Then you can adjust the floater accordingly so that it doesn’t trigger the pump until there’s a higher water level.

5. Finally, make sure that the dedicated control circuit and circuit breaker that you have installed for the sump pump are working properly.Keeping your basement dry and your basement belongings safe from floodwater is an ongoing battle. It does not end after you’ve installed a sump pump that works.