How To Test Your Sump Pump

If you have a sump pump it is important to test it periodically and make sure it is still working the way it was designed. Pumps can get clogged, jammed, or just go bad over time.

We made the video above to explain some basic things you can do to check and troubleshoot your sump pump. If the following steps don’t work, we have technicians that are able to help.

Test The Pump

Remove the sump lid and dump a five-gallon bucket of water in
If the pump comes on and pumps the water out, you’re good
If the pump does not come on proceed to basic troubleshooting

Basic Troubleshooting

Check for a tripped GFCI outlet
Check for a tripped breaker
If that fixes it, monitor to make sure power doesn’t go out again. If the power continues to go out, have a professional check to see if there is a bigger problem with the pump or the electrical.
If there is power at the outlet, check the plug for the pump separately from the plug for the switch
If none of those things work, contact a professional

If your sump pump stops working and you don’t catch it in time, you can experience flooding and be faced with costly repairs. A little preventative maintenance can save you thousands of dollars in remodeling or restoration costs.