Preparing Your Aurora Sump Pump for Heavy Spring Rains

It’s never too early to start thinking about how you can prepare your sump pump for the added strain of heavy spring rains and snow melt! In late winter or early spring take the following steps to ensure that your sump pump will be ready when you need it most:

1. Safety First – Take the proper safety precautions by unplugging the unit or turning off the breaker before you start working on your sump pump. Move any nearby items out of the way to avoid damaging them as you work.
2. Take Stock – Remove the lid and look inside with a flashlight. Take note of how the unit is positioned and whether anything looks like it may need cleaning or repair - including cracking, cord twisting, and loose connections.
3. Clean Up – Scoop put any sediment (gravel, mud, leaves, or sand) that may have accumulated in the bottom of the pit. Then clean the intake grate at the base of the pit so water can flow in freely. This will go a long way in preventing a sump pump clog, improving the unit’s performance and extending its life.
4. Run Routine Checks – Make sure the float switch moves freely without catching. If it catches and doesn’t go up or back down, clean off anything it’s getting hung up on or reposition the unit to free it from the cord or discharge pipe.
5. Test It – Plug the pump into the outlet (not an extension cord) and slowly pour water into the pit from a bucket or hose until the float rises and the pump activates. It should only take a few gallons of water to get it to turn on. After it turns on, listen carefully to how it sounds when it’s running. If it makes grinding, rattling, or other harsh sounds, unplug it and check the unit to make sure it doesn’t look like anything is binding it up. Once it’s running smoothly, ensure that the water is being pumped out. You should see the water level in the pit lower and water come out the discharge pipe outside. If the water level remains steady, check the discharge pipe to ensure it’s not blocked with ice or sediment.

If you have a battery backup system, this is a good time to test that as well to ensure that your sump pump will still run if you lose power.

6. Get Help – If your sump pump isn’t working, call a local Aurora plumber to come out and take a look. They should be able to diagnose the issue and either get it fixed or get the unit replaced so your home is protected from spring flooding. 

If your sump pump isn’t working properly, give us a call at 1 (800) 674-9130 and we’ll send someone out right away to take a look! We do commercial and residential sump pump repair in Aurora every day. Find out why more people choose us for their plumbing needs!