Regular sump pump inspections can help prevent flooding damage to your property. Many buildings use French or channel drains to collect water that might otherwise saturate the soil surrounding your building and basement. This helps prevent rotting, dampness, pooling and flooding. This water is typically gathered in a sump well or barrel before being pumped out. The pump in this container should only activate when the water level within the sump/tank reaches a specific point. This action triggers a switch, and the pump drains the water through the drainage system. Faults or issues can cause the pump to run constantly, burning it out, wasting electricity and risking flooding.
Examining Your Sump Pump: Check the Float
Sump pumps typically rely on a float or sensor to activate and deactivate the pump. The float is usually hanging freely beside the pump. As the water rises, the float rises with it and activates the switch that powers the pump. After confirming that power is running to your pump, you can quickly test that this switch is working correctly by lifting the float with your hand. If you don’t see a ballcock or float, there may be a different type of sensor in place. Check the manual, or try to fill the tank yourself to see if the pump engages. If it doesn’t activate your pump, it is crucial to have it inspected as soon as possible, as it won’t turn on automatically when needed.
Examining Your Sump Pump: Routine Inspection is Essential
If a sump pump or lifting station fails, your property could be at risk of damage, ranging from mildew and dampness to severe flooding. If the pump fails and you are unaware, a lot could happen before you realise the issue. For essential facilities like underground carparks, it’s essential to test the pump several times a year.
Using an Alert System
A pump alert system can provide additional peace of mind and an extra layer of protection for your property. As well as triggering an audible alarm when there’s a potential issue with your pump, it can also send an SMS to key staff members and contractors to ensure the issue is solved before it becomes a problem. If you don’t have this installed yet, we’d be happy to advise you.
If you would like to discuss setting up a maintenance contract for your pump system, you can always give us a call at 1800 437 246.
