| Who could believe rain in February? Most | | | | - After a Heavy Rain - Check the inlet screen for |
| Bostonians rejoiced that it rained and not snowed | | | | any blockage. This is one of the leading causes of |
| like the rest of the rest of the country which had | | | | pump failure |
| record breaking snowfalls. However there are | | | | - Fill the sump pit up with water to make sure the |
| some Bostonians who wished it had snowed, not | | | | pump is working. |
| because they like skiing but because their | | | | - Once the pump starts to work, go outside to |
| basements flooded due to the heavy rains. | | | | see if the pump is actually pumping water, or |
| Inevitably whenever the North East gets a lot of | | | | place your hand around the pipe to feel if the |
| rain in a very short time, basements flood and | | | | water is passing thru it. You must check to see if |
| the most important tool a home owner needs in | | | | the pump is actually pumping water because |
| a basement is a Sump Pump. | | | | sometimes the pump will turn on but not actually |
| The majority of our customers with flooded | | | | pump anything. |
| basements who needed our services to pump out | | | | - Make sure that the float controlling the pump is |
| their basements all had Sump Pumps; however | | | | not restricted or getting hung up. |
| those pumps failed to work when they were | | | | - If the pump has a back-up battery, it should be |
| most needed. A large percentage of these | | | | replaced every second or third year. |
| flooded basements could have been prevented. | | | | Finally if your home does flood due to the |
| How you ask? With preventative maintenance. | | | | malfunction of your sump pump, be aware that |
| Sump pumps are like clothes dryers and | | | | your home owner's policy almost always excludes |
| dishwashers they both need periodic maintenance | | | | sump pump failure. My advice to you would be to |
| to operate efficiently. It is recommended that in | | | | call your insurance broker to see if you can add a |
| the states where rain and flooding is more | | | | sump pump clause to onto your policy. The cost |
| prevalent, sump pumps should be tested every | | | | for this is very small compared to the thousands |
| few months, while other states that only have | | | | of dollars it might cost you if that pump does fail |
| periodic flooding, they should be tested twice per | | | | and you end up with two feet of water in your |
| year. | | | | finished basement. |
| Sump pump maintenance: | | | | STAY DRY!!!!!! |