Sump Pumps in Denver, Colorado

For a home that’s prone to heavy rainfall, a sump pump becomes crucial to a home’s construction. Anyone that has had to clean up a flooded basement or experienced water damage in their home understands the importance of a sump pump. It’s always a good idea to have a sump pump that’s ready to kick in when needed, even if it doesn’t see a lot of action.

Even in relatively dry areas, homeowners often install sump pumps to protect their homes from flooding when the rainfall or snowmelt is greater than usual. Don’t wait until the wet season begins to schedule a maintenance call for your sump pump.

How do sump pumps work?

Sump pumps collect excess groundwater and direct it away from the home’s foundation. The obvious place to install a sump pump is at the lowest point of your basement or crawl space, where groundwater is likely to collect. A sump pump will kick in when water begins to collect, then routes it through piping to the home’s exterior.

A sump pump in dilapidation won’t divert the water, so the excess water may wind up in the home or flood the basement. You might be surprised at the extent of the water damage that can result from a sump pump failure.

You may want to call in a professional if you’re not sure your sump pump is in good operating condition or needs replacement. Some newer models will continue to work during a power outage, providing uninterrupted protection of your home and belongings. An experienced technician will check the pipes directing water from the sump pump to the outside, away from your home’s foundation. If they find leaky pipes they will either repair them or have them replaced so that your home will have protection from the heavy storms.

If you haven’t had your sump pump serviced in a while, there’s no sense in waiting until your basement floods in the next heavy rainstorm. There’s no time like the present to have your sump pump inspected and serviced. You’ll appreciate the peace of mind you’ll get from having a well-maintained sump pump when storms are in the weather forecast. A fully functioning sump pump will protect your home during heavy rains and thunderstorms.

What are the signs you need a sump pump service?

It is always a matter of concern when there is standing water in your basement area or crawl space and may signify problems with your sump pump. This pool of water can cause leaky or burst pipes. However, once these have been ruled out as potential causes, then it might be time to check the sump pump. If your sump pump isn’t up to the task of pumping excess water from your home, the water that seeps in through cracks in your foundation will accumulate and pool on the basement floor.

Taping a 2-foot square piece of plastic to a hard surface in your basement is another way to check if your home basement has a moisture issue. Depending on the square footage of the basement or crawl space, additional squares may need to be set up throughout the area. If you notice that water does form under the plastic, then you know there is an excessive amount of moisture getting into your space. This may be a red flag that your sump pump requires service.

Sump Pump Maintenance

In between service calls, there are a few things that homeowners can do to make sure that their sump pump is functioning properly. The first thing to check is that the sump pump is plugged into a source of electricity and that the wires have not deteriorated. You can completely remove a submersible pump from its sump pit and clear away any rocks or debris that could be blocking the grate. Make sure when you put the pump back in a place that it’s completely upright so that the float arm will be activated when the water rises.

It’s easy to test your sump pump by pouring a bucket of water into the sump pit and seeing if the sump pump turns on automatically. If you find that it is draining slowly, then you need to have a professional check it out and fix it. Once the pit is drained, all of the drainage pipes ought to be inspected for leakage and repaired as necessary.

Additionally, the discharge pipe should be cleared from any kind of debris or obstruction. Last, of all, you should have any battery or water-powered backup pumps inspected and prepared for use just in case your main pump fails or the power goes out.