Things to Look for When Your Sump Pump Isn’t Working

We’re about to head into the rainy season in Texas, a time when you want to know that your sump pump will do its job. If you’re like most Texans, your sump pump hasn’t made a peep in months. There are some specific steps you can take to check that everything is working properly and that you’ll be able to keep everything dry. Here’s a checklist to help you out:

• Step One—Make certain the float works properly: The float is a key component of your sump, triggering the pump to get rid of water when it reaches a certain level. To test the float, get a bucket and slowly pour water into the sump pump pit. When the water reaches a certain level—before it floods onto the floor—the pump should engage, push out the water and then shut off. Ideally, you should do this every two to three months, but do it now, before the rains come.
• Step Two—Clean the pit: It’s pretty common for debris to collect in the sump pump pit. As water collects, it brings dirt, grit and other items, which can impede the operation of the pump. Remove large items by hand and use a shop vac to remove dirt and grit.
• Step Three—Check the impeller: The impeller is a rotating component inside the pump, which pushes the water out. Even though there’s a screen to protect debris from getting inside the pump, your impeller can still become clogged. To clean the impeller, you’ll need to unplug the pump, take it out of the pit and disassemble it. You may want a plumber to do that, so you have the confidence that it’s done correctly.
• Step Four—Check the valve: If the pump pushes the water out, but it comes right back, you may have a bad valve. That’s probably a job for a plumber.

Public Service Plumbers
5610 Dyer Street
Dallas, Texas 75206
(214) 753-4633

We offer plumbing installation and repair services to individuals and businesses throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including Highland Park, University Park, Preston Hollow, Lakewood, Lake Highlands, Richardson, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Coppell, Garland, Mesquite, Addison, Kessler Park, Farmers Branch, Grapevine, Southlake, Flower Mound and Lewisville.

We bring more than five decades of experience to our client. No job is too big or too small. Every member of our team has been in the plumbing trades for at least 10 years. In addition, our support staff offers more than 100 years of combined experience in the plumbing business.