Do You Have a Working Basement Waterproofing System For the Spring?

basement waterproofing system

Have a Basement Waterproofing System Installed

This has sure proven to be one cold, wet February. Between blizzards, snow melting, and rain showers, our sump pumps have been doing overtime. Unfortunately, in some cases, so have our Wet-Vacs and mops. It’s important that as a homeowner you’re doing everything you can to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your basement waterproofing system. That’s why we recommend that you take the next few weeks and focus on your basement or crawl space. Be sure to pay special attention to the most critical part of any home waterproofing system, the sump pump.

But I paid all this money for a top-of-the-line basement waterproofing system, can’t I just let it do its thing and forget about it?

Well, even the most advanced basement waterproofing systems need a little care every once in a while. Testing your system ahead of time can also help you prevent things like burnt out pumps, power outages, electrical failures, and drainage clogs. Since we’re assuming a flooded basement during a rainstorm isn’t the ideal way to find out there’s something wrong with your sump pump, we’re recommending testing it ahead of time.

Testing your system with water is a quick and easy process. If your system has small access ports, place a hose and pump water through your system, preferable at the furthest point from your sump pump. This will accurately simulate a rain storm, while simultaneously helping flush out any debris or residue that may be accumulating in your drain tile.

If your system was not supplemented with access ports, you may pour water directly into the sump basin using 5 gallon buckets. This will certainly be able to tell you if your pumps are operating properly.

To test your battery backup system, simply follow the same water testing procedures with the primary sump pump unplugged. If you don’t have a battery backup system, we recommend you consider one. A battery backup is the best way to ensure you’re protected in the event of a primary pump failure or power outage, period.

Remember, stay ahead of the storms. Water test your system, check those pumps, and test your battery backups! Spending a little time checking everything out now will surely save you loads of time and money dealing with a flood later.