Flooding in Westfield

One of the calls we get most often when it comes to claims is a failed sump pump. When a severe storm hits, homeowners can experience excess water in their basements or lower their homes. Your sump pump helps protect your property and keep your home dry by controlling excess water. Usually installed by a professional the sump pump’s primary job is to pump water outside and away from your home. This can come from both heavy rain and even heavy snow in Indiana.

Keep Your Sump Pump in Good Condition

Making sure your sump pump is ready when you need it.

Check the pump every year at least once to ensure it is still in good working condition.

• Is the sump pump plugged in? Sometimes kids unplug things for the craziest reason. We have gotten that call.
• Is the power cord in good shape?
• Is the drain hose connected properly?
• Check for any debris in the pit area that could clog the pump and prevent it from working? Kids can find the weirdest spots to hide things.
• Pour clean water into the pit with the sump pump to test it. If the sump pump starts automatically and quickly drains the water, you should be good to go.
• If you have a battery backup, unplug the pump to ensure that it will function properly on battery power. 
• Most all have or will experience a power outage, consider installing a battery backup to ensure yours will not fail when the power goes out. 
• Contact a professional if your sump pump is not working correctly. In most cases, it should always cost less to replace the sump pump than the cost of your deductible. 

Finally, have you finished your basement or hired it done while home this past year? If so you may want to consider obtaining optional coverage for water backup or sump discharge, or overflow, as most homeowner’s policies do not cover water in the basement.

Source: http://www.disastersafety.org/flood/using-sump-pumps/