Care calendar
A pump and tank check for every season
Most pump calls start as something small that went unnoticed for a season. This is what to look at, and when.
Spring, after the thaw
Ground water is high and the sump is working hardest.
Test the sump pump with a bucket of water
Check the discharge outlet is clear of ice and debris
Check the pressure tank's air charge, once a year
Summer, irrigation season
Hoses and sprinklers run the pump longer than any other time.
Listen for short cycling when you water
Check the yard hydrants for drips
Look at the sediment filter, and change it if it is dark
Fall, before the first hard freeze
Frozen pump houses are the most common weekend call.
Check the pump house heater and the heat tape
Close up gaps and add insulation
Drain and shut off hoses and outdoor hydrants
Winter, the cold snaps
A pump house can freeze in a single night below zero.
Keep the pump house door closed and the heater on
Let one tap drip on the coldest nights
Know where the main valve and the pump's breaker are
How often
Intervals at a glance
Pressure tank air charge
Once a year, with the pump off and the tank drained.
Sump pump test
Every spring and every fall, with a bucket of water.
Ejector basin
A look at the lid, the vent and the float once a year.
Pump amperage and switch contacts
Every few years, or as soon as the pump starts acting differently.
Well water test
Once a year, and after any work on the well.
Pump house heater and heat tape
Before the first hard freeze.
Freeze nights
A frozen pump house is a Monday call you don't want
Pump houses freeze when the heater fails, a gap lets cold in, or the heat tape has gone bad. We check the heater, the tape, the insulation and the pitless adapter's depth, and tell you what is worth fixing before the cold comes.
Cold-weather questions
How cold does it have to get before a pump house freezes?
It depends on the insulation and the heater. With a failed heater, one night well below freezing is enough. Don't count on a mild forecast.
What should I do if the pump house froze?
Switch off the pump's breaker. Don't use an open flame or a torch. Warm the space slowly with a space heater if it is safe to, and call us to check the pipes and the tank before you turn the pump back on.
Should I let a tap drip in a cold snap?
On the coldest nights, yes, at the tap farthest from the tank. Moving water is harder to freeze.
Book a check before the season turns
Tell us the season and the symptom. The visit fee comes off the work if you hire us for it.