Autumn is in full swing, but in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Dakotas the time between Autumn and Winter can be painfully short.
Now is the time to take all of the necessary precautions and preventative steps in your basement.
The best way to save money on home repair is to not have the accidents that make it necessary, so by winterizing your sump pumps and back up valves, you are helping guarantee a dry basement no matter what the weather forecast holds! While most people check the roof first when winterizing their home, followed by the electrical and the foundation, so often key elements like the sump pump and back-up valve are overlooked that can make or break how your home handles water emergencies, especially come spring time when the snow pack begins to melt.
For the intrepid do-it-yourselfer, winterizing your sump pump can be done on your own. In the event you are a bit uncomfortable handling the ins and outs of basement waterproofing yourself, call in the winterizing experts. Nevertheless, here is a basic primer on how to winterize your sump pump today:
- To help remove the possibility of freezing, first remove the discharge extension as close to your home as possible. Install the diffuser cap from the end of the pipe in its place.
- Open your sump basin by removing all 4 bolts.
- Check every clamp connection to make sure they are tight and then test the pump by adding water into it until it cycles. Keep in mind the water might need to be 6-8” above the pump before it will cycle.
- Replace the batteries in your high water alarm.
- If you have a battery backup system, check the water level in the battery. Add distilled water if necessary.
- If you have a free flow discharge with a heat cable, plug it in after the first snow falls.
There you go, some very simple tips to help you winterize your sump pump and avoid costly and damaging accidents over the Winter! If all this is too complicated, contact the experts at Standard Water Control today to handle all your sump pump and back up valve jobs and projects!