A sump pump is used to pump groundwater away from your home to avoid water flooding the basement or lower levels of your home. If you have ever had your sump pump fail, then you have experienced the large amounts of water that can flood into your home during a heavy rainfall or during the springtime when snow is melting.

The trouble with a sump pump, just like a water heater, is that it is hard to predict when it is going to fail. Here are some mistakes to avoid to ensure that your sump pump will continue to work when you need it most:

1. Don’t install a sump pump yourself – Some homeowners can be handy and figure out how to do things on their own but risking a flood in your home is not worth it. If it is time to replace the sump pump in your home, hire a professional that can get the job done quickly and knows how to do it right.
2. No backup power source – A sump pump runs on power so if you are experiencing a storm in your area, then there is a chance that your power could go out causing your sump pump to power off.  You can avoid this by hooking your sump pump up to a backup power source.
3. Letting debris build up in the pump – A sump pump sucks up water so to work properly, make sure that there is no debris that could get sucked up clogging your sump pump which could burn out your pump’s motor.
4. Failing to test the sump pump – You sump pump can be tested twice a year to ensure that it is working properly.  To test your home’s pump, slowly pour water into the pump’s pit until it activates the pump to switch on.  Check that it switches on and the speed that it empties water.

You can’t always avoid the inevitable.  Your home’s sump pump will not last forever just like your water heater will not last forever.  If the sump pump in your home fails, you can call a certified water removal company like Pacific Dryforce to remove unwanted water.  Pacific Dryforce serves the following cities and their surrounding areas: Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry, Rathdrum, Priest River, Spirit Lake, Athol, Hayden, Hauser Lake, and we also proudly serve the Spokane, Washington area including but not limited to Spokane, Airway Heights, Newport, Mead, etc.