Blog Layout

How To Prevent Basement Flooding With A Sump Pump

admin • February 18, 2019

One of the most serious plumbing emergencies comes in the form of a major flood in your basement. The basement is one of the most important but most ignored rooms in the house. People with smaller houses use the basement for many different purposes. Many people use the basement as a laundry room. In other words, they keep their washing machines in the basement. Many homeowners install water heaters in their basement. As you can see, the basement is home to some very important plumbing appliances. And even if you do not use the basement for these purposes, you still need the room for other reasons. The basement is usually below all the other rooms in the house. This means that this is where rainwater flooding starts. And if any of the plumbing appliances in the basement start leaking, there could be a serious flood in the room. But the main cause of major basement flooding is rainwater. The most effective way of preventing basement flooding is by using a sump pump. This is a mechanical device that is specifically designed to pump floodwater from the basement. Here is an explanation of how it works and how to maintain it.

Install The Main Sump Pump

Every house requires a main sump pump in the basement to prevent flooding. The main sump pump is usually installed below the ground in a corner of the basement. The device is usually hooked to the main electrical power supply in the house. The purpose of the main sump pump is to pump out floodwater from the basement when it reaches a certain level. The main sump pump starts automatically after the floodwater reaches a certain level. The main problem with this device is that it stops working when there is a power blackout.Alexandria sump pump services

Install A Battery Powered Backup Sump Pump

Because the main sump pump is connected to the main electrical system in the house, it’s bound to fail when there is a power blackout. And remember that power blackouts usually occur when there is a heavy rainstorm. As such, the main sump pump is likely to fail when you need it most. That is why you need to install a battery powered backup sump pump in the basement. This backup sump pump is usually installed above the ground and it kicks in when the main sump pump fails.

Test The Sump Pumps Regularly

In order to ensure that your sump pumps are always in good working condition, you should test them regularly. A simple way of testing a sump pump is by pouring a bucket of water in the sump pit; this is the hole where the sump pump is installed ion the basement. The sump pump should start working automatically when the water reaches the right level. If the sump pump fails, request Alexandria sump pump repair services immediately to have it fixed before a rainstorm starts.

Clean The Sump Pumps Regularly And Properly

A sump pump is exposed to all manner of dirt and debris in its sump pit. It can easily clog if it’s not cleaned regularly. Make a point of cleaning your sump pumps thoroughly on a regular basis. Pay particular attention to the discharge line and also clean out the sump pit.

You might also like

By Plumbing Information May 25, 2021
Woodbridge, VA homes need sump pumps to prevent flooding. Flooding is very common in areas with heavy rainstorms like Woodbridge, VA. One of the most effective ways of preventing flooding is by installing a sump pump in your basement. A sump pump is a mechanical device used to pump floodwater away from the house. Its usually installed in a hole called a sump pit in the corner of your basement. When the basement starts to flood, the sump pump starts pumping the water automatically when it reaches a certain level. A sump pump requires electrical energy to operate. This is why the device presents serious problems during a rainstorm. Because as you very well know, power blackouts usually occur when there is a rainstorm in Woodbridge, VA. That is why you are advised to install a main electrical sump pump and a backup battery powered sump pump. The battery powered sump pump will kick in automatically when the main sump pump fails. One of the most important care and maintenance activities for a sump pump is regular cleaning. You can clean your sump pump on your own or you can request Woodbridge plumbing services for a professional wash. Company reviews are found at https://goo.gl/maps/BpfP3oystQbf4doV8. Read on to learn how to clean your sump pump properly in Woodbridge, VA. GET THE NECESSARY CLEANING SUPPLIES The first thing that you should do when preparing to clean your sump pump is to get all the necessary cleaning supplies. To clean your sump pump in Woodbridge, VA, you will need: · A bucket · A garden hose · A plastic scraper · A pair of protective gloves · A large plastic sheet Woodbridge-plumberYou will wear the protective gloves at all times to protect your hands from germs and other contaminants in the gray water where the sump pump resides. The plastic scraper will come in handy when removing all the dirt from the surface of the sump pump. And you will use the large plastic sheet to cover and protect the ground where all the cleaning will be taking place. If all of this sounds like too much, or too involved of a process for you to undertake, call 4FastPlumber. They can handle this for you with no problem. UNPLUG THE SUMP PUMP After assembling all the necessary cleaning supplies in Woodbridge, VA, you can now unplug the sump pump or turn off the power on the circuit breaker. You are now ready to remove the sump pump from the sump pit for cleaning. Before you remove the sump pump, make sure that no one is using any plumbing appliances that can drain into the sump pit. Also ensure that there is no basement water draining into the sump pit. CLEAN THE SUMP PUMP Take the sump pump outside your house in Woodbridge, VA and lay it on the large plastic sheet. Use your garden hose to clean all the dirt and sludge from the surface of the device. You will also use the plastic scraper to remove any caked debris from the surface of the sump pump. You should also drain and rinse the check valve. Leave the sump pump to dry and then reattach the discharge pipe. DRAIN AND CLEAN THE SUMP PIT Use a shop vac to drain any standing water from the sump pit in Woodbridge, VA. Clean out any other debris that might have accumulated in the sump pit before reinstalling the sump pump. REINSTALL THE SUMP PUMP Reinstall the sump pump and reconnect it to the power source. It’s now standing ready for use in the event of your basement flooding.
By Drains & Clogs May 25, 2021
Arlington, VA does not suffer many sewer line problems. But when they do occur, the residents and business owners in the city really face the music. The drainage and sewer system is the backbone of the plumbing system. This critical section of the plumbing system is responsible for removing all liquid waste or wastewater from the house. This means that you should take all the necessary care and maintenance measures to ensure that the drainage and sewer system in your house in Arlington, AV is always in excellent condition. The drainage and sewer system starts in the kitchen and bathroom and ends in the municipal sewer system or in your private septic tank in Arlington, VA. It includes:Arlington emergency plumbing · All the drainage fixtures including the sinks, showers, toilets, faucets etc · All the drains including the sink drains, shower drains, toilet drains, bathtub drains, floor drains etc · All the drainage pipes · All the underground sewer lines · The main sewer line · The private septic tank You should put in all the effort you can to ensure that all these parts of the drainage and sewer system are always in good working condition. Here are a few important things that you should always remember about your drainage and sewer system in Arlington, VA. YOU CAN PREVENT CLOGS BY BEING RESPONSIBLE Clogs are the most common plumbing problems in every drainage and sewer system in Arlington, VA. Clogs are mainly caused by careless waste disposal habits. You can prevent clogs from occurring in your drainage and sewer system by adopting responsible waste disposal habits. Use the following tips to prevent clogs in your drainage and sewer system in Arlington, VA: · Do not flush solid waste in the toilet · Keep hair out of your shower drains · No solid food remnants in your sink drains · No soap remnants in your shower drains FREQUENT CLOGS ARE TROUBLE Although clogs are very common in every drainage and sewer system in Arlington, VA, they can indicate a more serious problem in your plumbing system. Frequent clogs are a sign of big trouble in your drainage and sewer system. Frequent clogs indicate that you might have: · A broken sewer line · A leaking sewer line · Serious tree root infiltration in your sewer system · A huge clog in your sewer lines · Imminent sewer backup in your house If you start experiencing frequent clogs in your drainage and sewer system, call an Arlington emergency plumber to come and check out your sewer system before things get worse. TREE ROOTS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS SEWER PROBLEMS All that beautiful vegetation cover in your compound in Arlington, VA is super nice and aesthetically pleasing. But those huge trees can ruin your underground sewer lines. Tree roots follow sewer lines for the promise of moisture and nutrients. They try to force their way through and if they succeed, you have a serious sewer problem on your hands. REGULAR CAMERA INSPECTIONS ARE CRUCIAL To avoid serious drainage and sewer line problems, hire 4 Fast Plumber Arlington to conduct sewer cameras inspections regularly. These inspections will reveal any existing or pending faults in your underground drainage and sewer lines, thereby enabling you to implement the necessary repairs before all hell breaks loose. The plumbing company can also be found at https://www.hotfrog.com/business/va/arlington/4-fast-plumber-arlington.
By admin September 21, 2019
Plumbing Maintenance Tips For Arlington, VA Arlington, VA has some of the best plumbing systems in the country. It’s important to note that the residents of this city spend a lot of time and money to ensure that they have working plumbing systems. A working plumbing system is very important in your home in Arlington, […]
More Posts

Book a Service Today

Share by: