03/30/2019
Hello friends of OTC. My first real post on the page.
And because of recent problems at a customers with their sump pump, here some info for you from my years of experience:
- BROKEN SUMP PUMPS: As you can see in the picture, sump pumps can rott. Check the sump pump at least once a year, best at this time or better just before the big snow melt. If there is an oily film on the water in the sump hole, the pump is with a high probability broken!
- HOW TO CHECK A SUMP PUMP: It is possible and advised to check if the sump pump is working by just pouring water into the sump hole.
- WINTER AND SUMP HOSE: Make sure for the winter to disconnect the sump hose since it will be frozen into the snow and the sump pump can’t discharge. It is better to let it spray into the yard than letting it freeze up. Some people attach a short piece of hose just to bring it a bit away from the house.
- SUMP RUNNING A LOT: If the sump pump is running a lot it is either a sign that the discharge is blocked or that a lot of water is coming in through the weeping tile.
- WHERE IS THE SUMP PUMP? There are lots of different places for the sump hole/sump pump. Some are in utility rooms, but lots are in different places, under carpets, boards or under stair cases. Some houses don’t have sump pumps and the weeping tile discharges directly into the house grey water (sewage) line (this is not preferred by the city since it is overloading the drain system). Some houses don’t have weeping tile (the perforated pipe around the house at foundation level) on the outside of the house, but they have it as an afterthought on the inside of the house underneath the basement slab.
- LEVEL GROUND AWAY FROM THE HOUSE: It is immense important that the ground on the outside of the house is levelled at least 4’ away from the house. And this doesn’t mean that the black-dirt is just levelled away from the house, but that the clay underneath is levelled away. The black-dirt is not a drain layer, water goes straight through!
- START OF THAWING GROUND: In spring the ground is still frozen further away from the house, but right at the house it is thawed already. So, the snow melt, if it can’t run drain away from the house, will go along the house wall down. If there are any cracks or the basement wall is not water sealed, or the weeping tile is not doing its job, the water will find its way into the basement. Make sure extension of the down spouts are attached and not leaking!
I will inform write more about this in the future. For now, if anybody has questions, contact me! I am happy to help to find your water leaks and make your houses more safe!!!
:)
