With all of the rain that we have had in Maryland this week thousands of sump pumps have been running on overtime across the state. Sump pumps are an extremely important weapon that prevents water from leaking into your basement and causing thousands of dollars in damage to your home and your valuables. It also protects some of your home’s biggest assets: your HVAC system and water heater.
In order to protect your home from water damage and basement flooding, here are a few facts that everyone should know about sump pumps:
- The average sump pump lasts 10 years. Annual maintenance can extend the life of a sump pump. It also ensures that your pump is ready to work when water starts to make its way into your home!
- Power outages render traditional sump pumps useless. This is why it is critical to have a battery back-up pump on stand-by! If you do have a battery back up pump be sure to check its batteries throughout the year.
- The pump’s discharge line can freeze, causing a back-up. Early spring time often means rainy days and bitterly cold nights. When this is the case be sure to check your pump’s discharge line. If that discharge line freezes your pump’s actions will be blocked. Double check this line whenever temperatures are freezing at night but increase enough for rain or snow melt during the day.
- Sump pumps should always be installed at the lowest level of your home. This is where the water will make its way in.
- Sump pumps are extremely important and need to be professionally installed. Call Shipley Plumbing today! Our professional plumbers are sump pump experts.
Shipley Plumbing offers professional sump pump installations, replacements and maintenance. Call us today or click here to schedule an appointment online.