How Often Should You Check Your Sump Pump?

A pump that sits idle for months is not proven to work. Testing it takes about two minutes and is the difference between finding a fault on a dry day and finding it during a storm.

The test

Pour a pail of water slowly into the pit. Confirm the pump starts on its own, that the water level actually drops, and that it shuts off without help. If any of those three steps fails, the pump needs attention.

When to do it

Before the wet spring season and again in late autumn covers the two periods when local basements are most likely to be tested by weather. A quick check after any power outage is also worthwhile.

What else to look at

Clear debris from the pit, confirm the float moves freely and is not caught on a cord or the discharge pipe, and check that the outside discharge point is clear and directs water away from the foundation.