Field and Garden: Is your sump pump ready for spring?

During a miserable stretch of weather several winters ago, I asked my friend Earl Hepworth if he thought spring would ever arrive.

Ninety-three-year-old Earl looked at me and said, “Well, it always has.”

My friend’s words encourage me that spring will come, even if it’s not as soon as I would like. But as temperatures warm, conditions are likely to remain challenging.

Satellite images indicate that the snowpack in Foster County contains the equivalent of three inches of liquid water.

As the snow melts, some of that water will run into sloughs and streams. But another portion will soak into the ground and try to enter our basements.

My sump pump hasn’t run since July, but that situation is about to change. One task on this weekend’s “to do” list is to test the pump to make sure it’s working properly.

There are three main things to check:

First, make sure there is no debris blocking the inlet to the pump. Unplug the pump, remove the lid and then feel around the inlet with your fingers. Gravel and any other type of debris in the sump can be removed with a vacuum.

Second, check to see that the on/off switch is functioning properly. Plug in the pump and then slowly add water with a bucket or hose. The float should move freely, and the pump should turn on when the float reaches the appropriate level. It’s recommended that the process be repeated a second time to ensure the switch is functioning as it should.

Third, check the operating condition of the pump. Add enough water to the sump so that the pump runs continuously for at least ten seconds. Listen for strange sounds. If the pump seems to be struggling or if it sounds irregular, this may be a sign that the pump is reaching the end of its usable life and it should be replaced.

Here are three frequent questions about sump pumps:

Q: How often should sump pumps be replaced?

I asked our plumber this question last year. His answer was that it depends on how often it runs. Some manufacturers recommend replacing the switch and float every two years and the pump every five years.

Q: What size of pump is needed?

A one-third horsepower pump is satisfactory for most houses. A half horsepower pump is worth considering. The larger pump is only slightly more expensive, and it offers the advantage of being able to pump more water and lift it higher than the smaller pump.

Q: Do I need a backup pump?

A backup sump pump provides peace of mind to some homeowners. The backup is positioned so that it only comes on when the main pump fails.

When installing backup pumps, many homeowners choose battery-powered models. That’s an important safeguard against power outages.

NDSU Extension’s website has several publications and videos on the topic of sump pumps. If you’d like to receive copies of the publications in the mail, please contact me ([email protected], 652-2581) in the Extension office.