How Often Should I Maintain My Sump Pump?

Installing a sump pump makes a homeowner’s life a whole lot easier. It’s important to have a good interior drainage system to collect leaking water and drain it to the sump pump. A sump pump keeps your basement dry automatically, so you don’t have to worry about much when you have one installed. That said, just because a sump pump does things automatically doesn’t mean you can just have one installed and then never check on it again. 

A sump pump is a convenient device to have, but it still needs maintenance. A sump pump’s average lifespan is 10 years, but with proper care, it can last longer.  

• General Maintenance 

On average, a sump pump should be maintained once or twice a year. Maintenance procedures include cleaning the filter in front of the impeller, making sure the float switch is working properly, making sure the power cord is protected, cleaning out the sump pump pit, and greasing up the pump bearings. 

While some of these things can be done without the help of a professional, it’s always best to leave the care and maintenance of your sump pump and its inner workings to the experts. Professionally cleaning your sump pump ensures that it clogs up a lot less frequently. It also means the professional you hire will be able to spot any problems and get them fixed right away.  

• Seasonal Maintenance 

There’s some maintenance work that you should pay close attention to during certain times of the year. Sump pump pits and filters need to be checked frequently. In North Carolina, it rains the most during the summer, so this is the time of year when the sump pump works the hardest. You can help your sump pump work less by covering some parts of the yard so that the ground absorbs less moisture. 

As for maintenance that should be done during the winter, you can actually avoid doing it by installing exterior discharge line attachments. They’re to be attached to your sump pump’s discharge pipe to protect it from freezing over during the winter. They also help drain the water away from your foundation even when the interior pipes are frozen and the stream is blocked by ice.