How Often Should I Get My Sump Pump Cleaned?
Inspector Plumber • July 20, 2022

The majority of homeowners rarely think about their sump pump. Most of the time, this is because sump pumps function as they should, quietly preventing floods that may harm the house. Despite being a small device, the sump pump plays a significant role in keeping your basement dry. Therefore, keeping it in excellent operating condition is crucial. How frequently should the sump pump be cleaned to keep it in good working order? Below, this is explained.



Sump Pumps Require Monthly Cleaning

The screen or inlet likely needs to be cleaned monthly if the sump pump is in control of the elimination of washing machine water. To clean the bottom grate, you'll need to remove a sump pump from its pit manually. The pump can suck tiny stones into the grate. Cleaning it ensures the inlet isn't blocked, since blockage might eventually harm the pump.



Inspect Your Sump Pump Quarterly

More frequently than once a year, the pump intake has to be cleaned. It's a good idea to check it every few months to ensure it's functioning properly. According to Allstate, cleaning the sump pump every three months is advisable. Verify that the outlet has a ground fault circuit interrupter and that the cord leading to the pump is in excellent shape. Check whether the ground fault circuit interrupter breaker has tripped before turning off your sump pump. To ensure that your pump starts automatically and drains the water fast, position it so that it is standing upright and then fill the pit with water.



Maintain Sump Pump Battery

Sump pumps powered by electricity are susceptible to power interruptions. It's a good idea to have battery backup so you don't get flooded during a storm that knocks out the electricity. The owner's handbook should include the battery's typical life duration and whether the main power supply charges it. Check that the battery is charged and, if required, replace it. Some sump pumps are driven by water and do not require an electrical power supply. These pumps, however, are better suited as backups.



Perform Yearly Maintenance on the Pump and Pit

Remove the pump from the pit and clean both. Disconnect the power source after ensuring the cable is in excellent condition and the connection is secure. Clean the grate, inspect the drainage pipes, wash the screen or inlet aperture, and refill the pump with water to prevent dryness.


The sump pump is crucial to help save your basement from over-flooding during excessive rainy periods. Therefore, it must be kept in top shape at all times. Do you need sump pump repairs? Give us a call at Inspector Plumber to get sump pump repairs done by an expert professional.

Does Your Sump Pump Need Replacement?

By Inspector Plumber • October 3, 2022
There are a few ways to tell when it's time to replace your sump pump. According to Forbes, you should replace your pump every seven to 10 years. However, in some instances, a pump might need to be replaced sooner. One warning sign that there might be something wrong with your pump is water build-up in your basement. Continue reading this blog to learn about other warning signs to be aware of. Constant Running You may find that your sump pump stays on for several minutes at a time. This can indicate that the pump is underpowered for the amount of water it has to handle. The issue might also be that it's not able to handle the distance that water needs to travel. In either case, the pump will be forced to run nonstop. To avoid ending up with serious issues, you should consider getting a more powerful pump for your home. If you're not sure about what size to get, a plumber can give you guidance. Weird Sounds Your pump is not supposed to make lots of noise. So if you start hearing anything beyond the low hum it's supposed to make, there might be something else going on. There are several things that can cause weird noises. It might be that your motor has a failed bearing. It might also be a jammed impeller. In any case, strange noises are a sign that your pump is badly damaged. In most instances, you have to replace it when this happens. Your plumber can tell you exactly what's happening and how to deal with the problem. The Pump Is Not Turning On This is an obvious sign that the pump has failed. Sump pumps generally work very hard when there is a heavy rainstorm. However, they also work when water is seeping into your basement due to ground pressure, dripping pipes, or melting snow. While the pump won't be able to do anything to stop water from getting into your home, they have the important job of removing it from the basement. So if you start noticing some increased puddling or pooling water in your basement, chances are the pump is not working. Are you having issues with your sump pump? You need to call a plumber to find out what's happening as soon as possible. If you delay, you can end up with some serious water damage that'll be costly to fix. A plumber will be able to tell you whether to replace or repair your pump. Get in touch with Inspector Plumber today to request an appointment.

5 Tips to Help Extend the Life Of Your Water Heater

By Inspector Plumber • March 9, 2022
Your hot water heater tank gives you hot water throughout your household. To avoid costly replacement, you need to take care of it and help extend its lifespan. According to 4abc.com, hot water heater tanks usually last around 10 to 13 years. You may be able to give your hot water heater tank that long life with a few of these tips. Keep Your Water Heater Maintained A hot water heater repair will come eventually, but keeping your hot water heater maintained is important. Regular maintenance checks can help you make sure there are no signs of leaking or damage to your water heater. Hot water heaters have many different parts to them that could cause leaks or have cracks, so it may be important to find an experienced plumber in your area to handle these routine maintenance checks for you. They will be able to find anything that could be going wrong and sometimes give you hot water heater repairs right there if it is as simple as tightening a pipe. Having routine maintenance checks can make sure that your hot water heater is healthy and it can prevent any potential issues that will cut its life short. Flush the Tank As time goes on, debris will build up in your hot water heater tank which can cause damage. If this debris isn't flushed out of your hot water heater tank once a year, this can lead you to need hot water heater repairs more often. This can be a big task, so it may be beneficial to hire a plumber for this task as well. You can do this yourself, but sometimes leaving it to the professional can make sure your hot water heater is protected. Inspect the Anode Rod The anode rod is a piece of metal inside your water heater to prevent rusting. You should check the anode rod in your water heater tank every year to make sure that it isn't corroded. If it is or is close to being fully corroded, your tank can begin to rust which causes irreversible damage. This can save you an entire replacement and just have you get a hot water heater repair by replacing the anode rod alone. Make Sure to Give Your Hot Water Heater Space To keep your home and family safe, you must give your hot water heater space from surrounding objects. This can ensure that you or your local plumber can inspect your tank easily and perform any hot water heater repair easily. This can also help reduce the risk of fires if you give your hot water heater tank enough room for air circulation. Stay in Touch with a Local Hot Water Heater Repair Team Your hot water heater might be great one day, but the next day there could be a huge leak in your basement. You might not have time to figure out what is happening and having a great relationship with a local plumber can help you immensely. You can give them a call, tell them what's happening, and they can come over to inspect the situation. After a few times of them coming to your house for routine inspections, if something big like a leak does happen, they'll know your hot water heater and know how to repair it. Hot water heaters are beneficial for you and your family. Getting hot water can be very important, so make sure you are up to date on your hot water heater to keep the water in your home warm for a long time.