The Concrete Truth

I wrote a post about this subject in the past. Unfortunately, the valuable information in that post was sent  to the depths of deletedom by those that will remain anonymous, (read post titled, Incompetence). This story is about “the little sump pump that could”. More importantly, why the little sump pump could.

If you are a homeowner and you have a finished basement, you need to pay particular attention to this post. It could save you time, money, and last but not least, aggravation.

If you are a waterproofing contractor, this information can increase your bottom line and provide revenue at a time when business is typically slow.

I have personally witnessed the anger and frustration of past customers who fell victim to the failure of their old sump pumps. I have walked into homes and seen people crying. The look of bewilderment and disbelief on their faces. All this because the sump pump failed and their basement flooded. The fact is, sump pumps fail when you need them the most! When the sump pump is called upon to work hard during a heavy rain, and the pump is near the end of it’s life cycle, is typically when it will burn out and betray you. How do you avoid this scenario? You can’t! There are no guarantees that even a new sump pump will last through the warranty period, but you can put the odds in your favor that this won’t happen to you, and this is how.

When I was the owner of a still thriving basement waterproofing company in the Chicago area, I offered my customers a “sump pump safety and maintenance service plan”. Very similar to what HVAC companies offer as a “clean and check”. The intention of this service is to discover any defects in your furnace before extremes in the weather put your system to the test. Much like the sump pump in your basement that protests you from flooding.

The safety and maintenance check that my company performed included checking everything that was related to the sump pump “system”. We would inspect the condition of the sump pit. If there was debris in the pit, we would clean the pit and find the source of the debris, and correct it. We would inspect the sump pump discharge. Any      imbalances would be corrected. The pump itself would be tested for initial surge amps and load amps. I would record all of these readings from a customers pump and keep them on file. If there were any changes in those readings from one year to the next, we would recommend changing out the pump. If the amps increase, the pump is working harder and will soon fail. The check valve would be tested and inspected. I recommend changing the check valve every 3-4 years. They’re less expensive than an oil change in your car and an intrinsic part of the sump pump system. A faulty check valve can burn out the sump pump very quickly, leaving you vulnerable to flooding. I recommend a clear, see through check valve for every sump pump discharge line. If you have a backup sump pump, we would check the water level (if applicable), and clean any corrosion that may have accumulated at the battery connections. Install a new battery if necessary. Test the backup sump pump switch. Adjust or change the switch if needed. I would also suggest mounting the battery and brain box on a shelf off the floor. If you don’t have a backup sump pump, you need one.We would check the outside discharge lines. If necessary, install or have installed, a Freeze Guard available from Perma-Seal Basement Systems. Or any type of anti freezing mechanism that most waterproofing companies can install.

Do this every year before the spring rains, rain on your parade. Most companies can preform this service for under one hundred dollars. For the homeowner, you have just put the odds in your favor to continue to enjoy your dry basement. For the waterproofing contractor, you have just created additional revenue. I would schedule most of my maintenance checks in Feb. and March. Business is usually slower and your creditors will appreciate it.

That’s the story of  ”Why the little sump pump that could”. Did you like it?

“Remorse: regret that one waited so long to do it”.    -Mencken

admin Concrete Repair Backup Sump Pumps, Sump pumps