Many homes in the Colorado mountains experience some amount of below ground water seepage. Even a small amount of water entering the home can cause damage if left unchecked. Excessive moisture can also create an environment for mold and mildew to grow, causing health concerns.

A sump pump is an electric pump that is installed in the basement or crawlspace of a home to keep water from accumulating. A sump pump is typically placed in a sump pump pit designed to allow water to drain below the floor and allow the pump to remove the water.  As the pit fills with water, the pump turns on automatically, moving the water out of the pit through a drain pipe that exits the home and releases the water awy from the house. The pipe also has a check valve near the pump to keep the water from flowing backwards.

Testing Your Sump Pump

With the winter snowpack thawing and the spring rains just around the corner, spring is a good time to ensure your sump pump is working properly. Because sump pumps are usually hidden out of sight, we often don't think about them until a problem arises. To test your sump pump slowly pour a bucket of water into the sump pump pit. The pump should turn on a begin removing the water. If it does not turn on, ensure power is reaching the pump. If the pump still doesn't work, call Grand Lake Plumbing to have the unit tested and repaired if necessary.