Chelsea Plumbing Spotlight: Sump Pumps

Are you ready for spring?  If you’re like most people, you’ll say spring can’t get here fast enough – it’s been a long, hard winter, with plenty of ice and snow.

Look around, though.  All of that ice and snow is going to have to go somewhere when it melts.  Yes, a significant amount goes back up into the sky, via evaporation – but the rest of it?

Melts.

Melts into slushy puddles that go anywhere and everywhere – including into the basements of our homes. Flooded basements are one of the signs of springtime – but they don’t have to be, if your sump pump is ready!

Chelsea Sump Pump Installation

There are a number of ways water can make it into your basement: spring thaws, heavy rain, even burst pipes.  There’s one way to get all of that water out: a sump pump.  A sump pump is a pump installed at the lowest point in your basement.  A float-operated switch determines when the pump is on or off.  Ideally, your sump pump will quickly and quietly remove water from your basement as it accumulates, protecting your possessions and home from water damage.

Test your sump pump regularly to make sure it’ll work when you need it.  If you haven’t tested your sump pump in a while, now is an ideal time to do so – before that spring thaw arrives! To test your sump pump, pour a pitcher or two of water into the sump pump pit.  The pump should come on easily, quickly remove the water, and shut off promptly.

If your sump pump passes the test, congratulations! You’re ready for a Chelsea spring.  Bear in mind that the expected useful life of a sump pump is between 10-15 years, shorter if it sees heavy usage, and plan your sump pump replacement accordingly.  If your sump pump failed to pass the test, call your Chelsea plumber.  Sump pump replacement will have you ready for the spring – and many rainy seasons after that!