Tips On Maintaining A Sump Pump

If your home has a basement it probably has a sump pump installed in the lowest corner. If the pump is working properly, it will collect groundwater in a pit below the basement floor. When the pit begins to fill, a float switch triggers the sump pump to turn itself on, then pump the water out to a city storm sewer or the nearest drainage ditch. To ensure your sump pump is working, test it by pouring a few buckets of water into the pit. Make sure the pump turns on, empties most of the water from the pit, then turns itself off again. You'll notice that sump pumps require electricity to operate. That means if a storm knocks out power to your home, the sump pump can no longer do its job. But your Roto-Rooter plumber can install a battery backup system or a Venturi water-powered pump that will continue to pump away storm water and prevent flooding. Homeowners with some do-it-yourself skills should be able to handle many flood-prevention tasks on their own. But it's important to be careful and to recognize when you're in over your head. Roto-Rooter has experienced plumbers ready to help whenever you need us. [Roto-Rooter jingle]