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As your home’s plumbing moves into a new season of heavy lifting in the Twin Cities, two of the most important components to check are your sillcocks and sump pumps. Taking a few minutes for a spring inspection now can prevent basement flooding and hidden water damage later. Inspecting Your Sillcocks After the Thaw A sillcock (your outdoor faucet) may have survived the winter, but spring is when hidden damage often reveals itself. If water was trapped in the pipe during a deep freeze, the copper can split, leading to a leak the first time you turn the handle in the spring. The Spring Checklist:
Prepping the Sump Pump for Heavy Rain Spring in the Midwest means rising groundwater. Your sump pump is your home’s primary defense against a flooded basement during a thunderstorm or rapid snowmelt. The Spring Maintenance Routine:
Spring is a season of renewal, but it’s also a season of water. By ensuring your sillcocks are leak-free and your sump pump is primed for action, you can enjoy the warmer weather without worrying about what’s happening in your basement. Give us a call if you need help this spring!
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 If your home happens to have a sump pump, then you know that they can tend to get stinky from time to time. Here are some ways to clean it and get that funky smell out of your basement!
Determining where the smell is coming from is the first step. A garbage-like smell coming from your sump pit means that there is probably a build up in your pipes that needs to be cleaned. If it smells more like rotten eggs, then it is usually because your pit has dried out and sulfur dioxide smells are coming up from the sewer. To clean your sump pump, first turn the water off for fixtures that lead into your sump pump, like your washing machine. Disconnect your power to the sump pump, usually by just unplugging it or turning that circuit breaker off. Carefully remove your sump pump using a garbage bag or plastic sheeting, so as not to drip any sludge or water on your floor as you carry it outside for cleaning. Use your garden hose to rinse off the first layer of sludge, then use a scraping tool to clean off any caked on grime. Then rinse it again with the garden hose. You can then drain the check valve in the sump pit. Place a bucket underneath the valve, and open it and let any existing water drain into a bucket. If there is any water left in the sump pit, vacuum it up with a shop vac. To clean your sump pit, mix one cup of bleach into a gallon of water and pour it down into the sump pit. Make sure the drains and pipes within the pit are covered with water. Add a little more if necessary to bring water back up to the proper level. Be careful if you try using vinegar to clean your sump pump, as if not done properly, it can damage your sump pump. After you are all finished cleaning, reconnect your pump to the discharge pipe and check the valve. Turn the water back on and plug in your pump or turn your breaker back on, and you’re good to go. As for frequency of cleaning your sump pump, typically you should think about cleaning it once a year for removal of the sump pump to clean both the pump and the pit. If your sump pump doesn’t dispose of washing machine water, the pump screen or inlet opening should be cleaned every three to four months. If you find you might need more service after cleaning the system, call us for additional help! |
AuthorAt Tony's Plumbing & Heating, we offer outstanding residential and commercial plumbing and heating services in the East Twin Cities metro. With our blog, we hope to bring you useful tips and tricks for ever day life! Categories
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