Spring showers can spell disaster for your basements… But they don’t have to! With more than 60% of homes suffering from below-ground wetness, according to a recent report from the American Society of Home Inspectors, proper sump pump maintenance is critical to keeping your home dry. A small pump installed in your basement or crawlspace, sump pumps keep your home dry and prevent flood­ing and mold.

Here’s what everyone should know about sump pump:

GO LOW: Because sump pumps push water away from the house before it has the chance to reach the basement floor it’s important to make sure your sump pump is installed at the lowest level of your basement. Making sure your sump pump is located at the lowest level possible will also help to assure that its pipe never freezes over during those cold nights. Thankfully, having a trained H. Jack’s professional install your sump pump will take out the guess work and guarantee proper placement. BATTERY POWER: Strong storms can really put your sump pump to the test, and they can also knock out your home’s electricity, leaving your sump pump little more than an expensive paperweight when you need it most. Make sure to contact your local H. Jack’s representative for help installing a back-up battery powered auxiliary sump pump so you’re never caught with the lights out and rising waters. KEEP AN EAR OUT: Listen for any telltale indicators that your sump pump might need attention. A rattle or grinding noise may mean the fan used to pull water into the pump may be jammed or damaged. Sounding like persistent vibrating, a bent fan can cause the whole unit to wobble and increase stress on the fan’s shaft. Since an impeller fan cannot be re-bent back into place by hand, your local H. Jack’s technician will gladly come service any damages or repairs. TIME FOR A CHECK-UP: No one wants to be caught off guard. Make sure your sump pump is properly running by verifying that there are no obstructions like dirt or stones that can block your pump’s discharge pipe. You’ll also want to conduct performance tests at least three times a year. These tests can easily be done by filling a five-gallon bucket with water and slowly pouring it into the sump pump until the float trigger activates your pump. It your sump pump is working properly it will shut back off once the water drops below the shutoff level. Whether rain or shine, proper sump pump maintenance is critical to the continued quality your home deserves. Luckily, no matter what condition your sump pump’s health, H. Jack’s is there for maintenance and repairs – twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. With multiple locations across Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, be sure to call the H. Jack’s nearest you today to schedule an appointment. We’ll make sure that you’re ready for whatever Mother Nature can dish out this spring!