With all of the recent storms, rain and flooding that we’ve had recently in the Chicago area, we’ve had a lot of people contact us about their basement. Many called as they saw their basements filling up with water. No one really plans on waiting until their basement is flooded to take action, but it often happens that way. Most people don’t think of their basement flooding, until they are knee-deep in water. Removing water from your basement and cleaning up a big mess can cost a lot of money and be a big headache. You don’t have to spend thousands on a complete basement waterproofing system to make sure that you’re not caught in a bad situation.
Test Your Sump Pump
Because they are mechanical, all sump pumps have the potential to fail. The last thing that you want is to find out that your sump pump has failed while you are in the heaviest rain of the season. That is why it is important to check it often. Pour water into the sump pit to test it. The pump should activate and remove the water. If not, you know that there is a problem, and you can have it serviced before any problems happen. Put it on your calendar to check it every few months.
Sump Pump Problem Prevention
Sometimes problems occur that prevent the sump pump from performing correctly. Often times, these problems are related to debris or other things that have fallen into the sump pit. That’s why it is good to have a sealed pit. The Perma-Sump Pit Seal is a lid for existing pumps that is bolted down. In addition to keeping things out of the pump, it also keeps unwanted soil gases, moisture, odors, bugs and spiders from coming into your home through the sump pit.
Although sump pumps operate without much human intervention, they are not completely maintenance free. Lines can become clogged, switches can become inoperable and motors can burn out. Schedule an annual maintenance call with your Perma-Seal technician to make sure that your sump pump will work when it’s needed, and that it will last longer.
Prepare for Emergenices
It’s usually the big storms that require a good, working sump pump. It’s also usually the big storms that cause a power outage. Your sump pump is either hard-wired into the home electrical system, or it is plugged into an electrical outlet. If the power is not available to your sump pump when you need it most, the stuff in your basement is liable to be floating by morning. You need a battery backup pump that will keep going when the power isn’t. Perma-Seal has the right battery backup sump pump for your home.
For additional security, have a sump pump alarm installed. If your sump pump stops working while water is coming in, the 90 decibel alarm will alert you. You can also add a phone dialer to some systems for added security and peace-of-mind. If you are away, one call to your cell phone will let you know right away that there is a problem.
Make sure that you are ready for the next big rainfall! Contact Perma-Seal to find the solution that is right for you.