My sump pump gave out during that July storm, lesson learned the hard way

Last July we got that insane downpour on the west side, and I was in the basement at 2am watching the water creep toward my storage shelves. The sump pump had been running fine for years, but I guess the float switch got stuck on a wire or something, and it just gave up. I ended up on my knees with a wet vac trying to bail out the pit before the water hit the floorboards, but it was way too much water for that little thing. After about 3 hours of panic, I borrowed a neighbor's backup pump and finally got it under control, but I lost a box of old bills and a pair of boots. Now I keep a spare float switch in the utility closet and test the pump every month with a bucket of water. Does anyone else have a ritual for checking their basement setup before spring, or am I the only paranoid one around here?

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robert_smith3625d ago

Wait, you said the float switch got stuck on a wire, but you didn't mention checking the pit itself. Is there any chance the pump's inlet screen or check valve is clogged up with debris? I mean, the float is just one piece of the puzzle, and the last thing you want is to replace that and still have the same problem next storm. I test mine with a bucket too, but I also make sure the discharge line outside is clear and the flap on the backflow valve isn't stuck. You ever look at the actual piping, or just the pump and switch?