Get Your Sump Pump Ready For The Summer Storm Season To Reduce The Chance Of Needing An Emergency Plumber | Timberlane, LA
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One of the most common reasons that homeowners call in the help of an emergency plumber during the summer months is due to a damaged sump pump. To avoid any issues, it’s vital that you get your sump pump serviced and maintained to help prevent damage.
Summer storms can be amazing to watch; with dramatic flashes of lightning and heavy downpours, they can sometimes seem to come out of nowhere. The problem is that rain storms can cause flash flooding. If you have a basement, it’s likely to be prone to flooding, so you’ll need to have a sump pump installed.
A sump pump sits in the corner of basements in a concrete pit and is designed to pump away water and stop your basement from being damaged. Before a storm hits your home, it’s a good idea to do a sump pump inspection and have a plumber maintain your sump pump. You may find that you require post-winter maintenance. This will reduce the likelihood that you’ll need an emergency plumber if there’s a summer storm.
If you live in Timberlane, LA, or the surrounding area and are searching for an emergency plumber, don’t hesitate to contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain. The company has a brilliant track record of servicing and maintaining sump pumps and is available for all your plumbing needs.
What Is a Sump Pump?
A sump pump is designed to stop your basement from flooding; it looks like a bucket and is fitted in the corner of your basement. Sometimes sump pumps are also installed in the crawlspace of walls.
The sump pump will have been installed at the lowest point on the floor or in a specially built concrete recess. The sump pump’s job is to pump away floodwater so that it doesn’t damage your home. It’s a good idea to regularly service and maintenance your sump pump, especially after the winter.
How to Maintain a Sump Pump
Call in a professional to check that your sump pump is in good working order and will be able to do its job when the heavy rainfall hits your neighborhood. You don’t want to end up having to call in an emergency plumber during flash flooding because your sump pump isn’t working. The following tips will also help you get your sump pump ready for summer storms.
Inspect Your Sump Pump and Give It a Clean
You can easily inspect a sump pump yourself by emptying it out and having a look at it. If you’re unsure what you’re doing, it’s best to call in the professionals. Always make sure your sump pump is unplugged from the power source before you start inspecting it.
Once you’ve emptied out the sump pump, you’ll be able to do a visual inspection of the inside. Also, look around the unit for signs of damage. If everything looks in good condition, you can begin cleaning your sump pump. Sump pumps vary slightly in their design, so it’s best to check your owner’s manual for cleaning instructions.
Listen for Any Noises
Sump pumps are generally durable and long-lasting; however, they can also be prone to corrosion. Sometimes sump pump components become rusty, or the pump develops a build-up of debris or sediment that results in strange noises.
If you hear a strange banging, knocking, or grinding sound coming from your sump pump while it’s running, this obviously indicates there’s a problem. The best thing to do would be to call in the help of a plumbing service. Don’t attempt to work on the sump pump unless you know what you’re doing.
If you have previous experience of DIY plumbing, you may like to disassemble your sump pump unit so that you can clean away any corrosion. This will allow you to figure out what’s making the noise. Most homeowners would be best to call in a professional plumber who can identify what needs to be fixed and can clean away the corrosion correctly. A plumber will also be able to install a new sump pump if your old one is too corroded and can’t be repaired. Getting advice from a plumber is the best idea and will reduce the likelihood that you’ll need an emergency plumber in the future.
Perform a Test
Another great way to ensure your sump pump is in good working order before the summer storms and potential flooding hit is to test the pump. This will help you determine that all the components work and the units can pump in a controlled environment before you need to rely on it during flooding.
Testing your sump pump is easy; all you need to do is open the lid and pour in a bucket of water. Make sure that you add enough water to make the float move upwards. This will trigger the sump pump to start automatically, and it should pump the water out.
If you find that the water sits in the sump pump and nothing happens, you can reset the power source to see if this helps. If your sump pump hasn’t been used for a long time, it may need to be reset to get it going. It’s a good idea to check your sump pump and test it several times a year, particularly during the summer, if you live in an area that’s prone to summer storms. This will ensure your sump pumps in good working order and will reduce the likelihood that you’ll require an emergency plumber.
bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, Emergency Plumber
If you live in Timberlane, LA, or the surrounding area and are searching for an emergency plumber, don’t hesitate to contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of New Orleans. The company can help you service and maintain your sump pump and are also available for all your plumbing needs.
If you have any questions or require a sump pump inspection or an emergency plumber, don’t hesitate to call the bluefrog Plumbing + Drain team today!
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