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A sump pump is a reclusive workhorse that drains water from a basement year round with little fanfare and, if it’s automatic and silent, without anyone knowing about it. During a rainstorm a quiet army of sump pumps kicks in to pump water out of basements that would otherwise look like the mess halls of a sunken navy fleet and cost individual homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs. In the spirit of Jack teaching Rose to fly on the bow of the Titanic, our Product Experts have compiled this list of things every homeowner with a basement sump pit should know:

The average sump pump will last about 10 years before normal wear will result in mechanical failure. The switch is often the first part of the pump to malfunction. Read our post on pump switches for information on how to maximize the life of your pump by choosing the switch style that’s right for you.

Check your pump several times a year for the first couple of years after it’s installed and twice as often after that by pouring some water into the sump pit until the submersible pump cycles. By year ten, check your unit every couple of months and start thinking about getting a replacement.

Sump pumps routinely fail during rain storms due to motor burn-out or power failure. When this happens hundreds of gallons of water can rush into a basement in minutes, ruining your furnace, water heater and other mechanical and electrical devices. Don’t let this happen to you. Have a battery back-up unit ready to take up where your electrical unit left off. A one-time investment of a $300-$500 can save you 10-20 times that amount in repairs, particularly if you have a finished basement.

Sump pump systems come in a wide range of capacities and designs, ranging from basic stand-alone units to state-of-the-art combination systems.  A good quality sump pump and battery backup system is your first line of defense against water damage to your belongings and potential structural damage to your home.

Pump Products offers a variety of quality sump pumps and and sump pump back-up systems by  Zoeller, Hydromatic, PHCC Pro Series and other premium manufacturers to provide reliable protection for your home.