The Importance of Sump Pump Inspections
Green Bay is known for its lush, rainy springs and its cold fall/ winter months. This can mean lots of water ending up in your home’s sump pump. Due to the high demand placed on your sump pump, inspections are critical in extending the life of your plumbing.
While it’s a service you can perform yourself, seeking the help of a licensed professional (like the plumbers right here at Vern Kummers Plumbing, Inc.) guarantees it will be performed 100% correctly 100% of the time.
Not sure whether or not your home’s sump pump needs an inspection? This article will give you the inside scoop to keep your home protected at all times.
How And When to Clean Your Sump Pump
It is recommended by most plumbers to have a sump pump inspection performed at least once a year. Just doing this regularly can extend the life of your system for up to 10 years.
Compare this to the life of a regular sump pump without regular inspections, which is just 6 years, not nearly what a regular homeowner would desire.
If you do decide to check or clean your sump pump by yourself, make sure to unplug it first. Ask a certified plumber for instructions on the safest way to perform this vital inspection.
Why You Should Have a Working Sump Pump Alarm
In the event that your sump pump becomes clogged, loses power, or simply just stops working, it is important to make sure that it has a working alarm.
This alarm functions to warn the homeowner as soon as the sump pump stops working so that the issue can be immediately addressed before any damage is done to the home.
These alarms will be checked annually with your regular inspection, and should always be checked by a licensed plumber. This simple alarm has stopped many homes from sustaining major flood damage.
Pick a Good Discharge Location
Not all sump pump discharge locations are created equal. Depending on who installed your sump pump, it’s possible that the location for the water to flow out was placed too close to your home. The optimal location would be at least 20 feet away from the home.
If located any closer to your home than that, the water won’t flow far enough away and will just end up being reabsorbed by your soil and ending up right back in your sump pump.
This means that your sump pump will be working a lot harder than it should be. This can lead to increased electricity bills and a shorter life span for your plumbing. A regular sump pump inspection will help you decide if your discharge location is properly located.
With the amount of rain and snow that we get in Wisconsin, regular inspections are critical to the health of your system. To verify that yours is in good working condition, contact us at (920) 468-8756. The trained, licensed plumbers at Vern Kummers Plumbing, Inc. would be happy to help. Please share this article on all of your social media and pass the knowledge along to your friends and family as well!
