Prepare to Deal With Water in Your Crawlspace

11/13/2018 (Permalink)

Keep your sump pump ready to go

Well-maintained equipment is worth its weight in gold, especially if it includes a sump pump and you've got two feet of water in your crawlspace! When heavy rains roll through, hurricanes threaten, or the surrounding soil doesn't drain well, your Rusellville, KY, property could be exposed to flooding. If storms leave you to deal with excess water or a pipe breaks and floods the basement, you want the peace of mind that comes with knowing you are prepared to quickly remove that water.

Home and commercial property owners may have sump pumps that sit unused for many months at a time. Keep your own sump and trash pump primed and ready to go with the following steps.

Quarterly Maintenance

• Clean out the inlet screen.
• Visually inspect the power cord and make sure it's plugged in appropriately.
• Run a bucket of water through the pump to be sure the float rises, and the pump turns on.

Annual Maintenance

• Remove the pump for thorough cleaning, inspection, and necessary repairs.
• Clean the pump.
• Perform required maintenance as described by the owner's manual. (If you don't have the manual, check online for this information by using the manufacturer's name and model numbers. You might also contact a sump pump maintenance professional for guidance.)

If your crawlspace does flood, take the following steps:

• Shut off the electricity to prevent the risk of electrocution.
• Make sure the sump and trash pump are running.
• Remove valuables from the crawlspace if you can do so safely.
• Check the vapor barrier to determine additional risk to your property.
• Take pictures of equipment and property and document the damage and your actions. This information will be shared with the insurance company.

Prevent Trouble in Crawlspaces

Crawlspaces are put under many homes because creating concrete pads is very expensive and don't allow for HVAC units, water systems, and sewage distribution. This cost-effective convenience requires some sacrifice, however. Make plans to keep your sump equipment well-maintained for safety and loss prevention during flooding.