Seasonal checklist
Late winter
- Check that the discharge line outside is not buried in ice or snow.
- Pour a bucket of water in the pit and confirm the pump starts and empties it.
Spring
- Listen for the pump. Constant running or rapid on-off cycling means trouble.
- Make sure the float moves freely and is not tangled in the cord.
Summer
- Test the battery backup before storm season.
- Confirm discharge water flows away from the house and not back toward the foundation.
Fall
- Clean debris from the pit.
- If the pump is more than seven years old, plan its replacement.
Backup options
- Battery backup pump. A second pump on a deep-cycle battery. Runs for hours during an outage.
- Water-powered backup. Uses city water pressure. Needs municipal water, so not for homes on wells.
- Generator. Powers the main pump and other essentials.
- High-water alarm. Does not pump, but tells you in time to act.
When it fails
Stay out of water near electrical equipment. Check the plug, breaker and float from a dry spot. Then request sump pump failure cleanup. If the basement has taken on a lot of water, see flooded basement cleanup.