Nothing is worse than stepping into your basement and being ankle-deep in water.

 

When your sump pump fails, it can quickly lead to flooding that not only can have a negative effect on the foundation of your home, but ruin just about anything stored in your basement as well. But most of us want to avoid the possibility of this failure from ever happening, so, how do you know how to care for your pump and when it needs replaced?

 

An important piece of information to know is that, just like any mechanical device, your sump pump has a lifespan.

 

Specifically, 8-12 years is the average time frame you’ll be able to get out of it before replacement is necessary. If you aren’t sure how old the pump is, but know that your house is over that 8-12 year limit, it’s a good idea to swap it out proactively.

 

To make sure the pump that you do have installed is running properly and efficiently to maximize that lifespan, there’s a few things you can do to regularly maintain it.

 

 

First, we want to take a look into the water inside the pump to make sure there’s no dirt and debris inside that could be clogging certain elements, making it work harder and straining the system.

 

Next, there will be a switch inside that you can pull up to test that everything is in working order, water is flowing as it should, and even be able to pin-point where something might not be functioning so you can repair it ASAP.

 

Watch Jon in this video below demonstrate step by step how to check to see if your sump pump is in good health:

 

 

At Musselman Home Inspection, we like to be a resource for all things home maintenance, and this specific piece of equipment falls into that category. For more information and assistance on any and all things sump-pump, feel free to reach out and we will be more than happy to provide demonstrations, recommendations, and any additional help you might need.