Plumbing notes · March and October

The twice-a-year sump drill

A sump idles for months and then must work flat out on the wettest night of the year. Testing it in March, ahead of snowmelt and April showers, and again in October, before the autumn storms, is about the cheapest flood insurance a basement can buy. The kit list is one pail of water and five minutes of attention.

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A blue Mini Cooper driving through deep floodwater on a city street — From the almanac guide on test your sump pump.

Running the drill

Confirm the cord is in and that the receptacle is live with a lamp or tester.
Lift the crock lid and look for debris, gravel or a float snagged on the wall.
Tip water in gradually until the float lifts.
Watch the pump kick on, lower the level to its low mark and stop cleanly.
Step outside and confirm water is leaving the discharge well clear of the house.

What healthy sounds like

A good pump starts promptly, hums evenly, drops the level fast and stops without a bang. A soft thud from the check valve seating is normal. The level should not creep straight back up after shutoff unless groundwater is pouring in.

Warning signs

The motor hums while the level sits still
The float needs a nudge by hand
It keeps running after the crock is empty
Water slumps back into the crock after shutoff
Rust, grinding or a hot-electrical smell

Swap it before it quits

Pumps last according to how hard they work. If yours came with the house decades ago, or has begun to struggle, replacing it on a dry Tuesday beats replacing it in a thunderstorm.