A sump pump is a crucial component in keeping your basement dry. They protect your home from flooding by sensing excess water and pumping it away from your property. While annual maintenance is recommended, some sump pumps require a little more TLC to function properly and keep your home flood-free.
Check out these simple steps on how to properly clean your sump pump.
What is a Sump Pump?
Housed in a basin cut below your basement floor, a sump pump is a device with water-sensing valves that protects your basement from floods and water damage by automatically pumping out profuse levels of water.
What is Needed to Clean a Sump Pump?
For cleaning your sump pump, make sure you have these requisite items at the ready:
- Garden hose
- Big bucket
- Scraping/scouring implements
- Tarp/painter’s plastic
- Wet/dry vac
Having these materials prepared in advance will guarantee a good start to your sump pump cleaning and make the task much easier. 
Sump Pump Cleaning Steps
Step 1: Disconnect the Sump Pump
Make sure that your sump pump is not connected to a power supply. Either unplug it or flip the breaker, but do not attempt to clean a connected sump pump. The results may be shocking!
Step 2: Cut Off the Water
Make sure any water that drains into the basin is cut off to avoid a laundry load of H2O pouring in on you mid-clean.
Step 3: Disconnect and Wrap Up the Pump
Now, you will want to disconnect your pump from the discharge line and wrap it in the tarp or plastic sheeting to avoid a messy cleanup later. Set the pump in an area large enough for 360 degrees of access for a thorough cleaning.
Step 4: Clean the Pump
Spray the pump with your hose to break up residue and crud. Use your scraping implement to remove any remnants.
Step 5: Rinse the Pump
Hose down the pump a second time to wash away the rest of the residue. Once all the gunk is gone, you’re almost done!
Step 6: Drain the Check Valve
Grab your bucket and drain the water from your check valve.
Step 7: Wet/Dry Vac the Sump Pit
Use your shop vac to suck up any water left in the sump pump pit.
Step 8: Reassemble and Reconnect
If you disassembled anything, be sure that everything is reassembled correctly. Situate the sump pump in the sump pit and reconnect it to the discharge line. Plug it back in or flip the breaker and test the pump.
How Often Should a Sump Pump Be Cleaned?
The frequency at which you clean and maintain your sump pump depends on the amount of gunk in the sump. Annual maintenance is recommended at minimum, but a gritty pit may call for recurrent cleansings.
If you have any sump pump issues, contact the expert technicians at 24 Hour Flood Pros. They offer a plethora of services to resolve any sump pump or plumbing problems.
