Sump pump

What It Means

A sump pump sits in a pit in the basement floor, called a sump pit. When heavy rain soaks the ground, groundwater can seep into that pit, and a float switch turns the pump on to push the water out through a drain pipe and away from the house. FEMA notes that a standard sump pump stops working in a power outage unless it has a battery backup or a generator.

How It Sounds at Home

• "Is the sump pump running? I can hear water in the basement."
• "We lost power in the storm and the sump pump quit."
• "Time for the bucket test before spring rains."

The Breakdown

Test it once a year, following FEMA

1. Find the sump pit in the basement and make sure the pump is plugged in.
2. Slowly pour a bucket of water into the pit.
3. Watch the float rise. The pump should switch on and drain the pit.
4. Check that the water leaves through the discharge pipe outside, away from the house.
5. If the pump doesn't start, or you ever need to pull it out to clean it, cut the power first by flipping the breaker and unplugging it.

Short version to try today. Pour one bucket into the pit and listen for the pump. That single test is the yearly check FEMA describes.

When to replace it, per FEMA

Good to Know

FEMA points out that a standard sump pump isn't made to handle a large volume of water and won't run when the electricity is off, so it recommends a battery-operated backup pump, which starts when the water in the pit reaches its float switch. A water alarm beside a working pump is FEMA's other suggestion for keeping basement flood damage down. Buhata's own suggestions: run the yearly test before the season your area gets its heaviest rain, cut the power before reaching into the pit, and call a licensed plumber or electrician for anything beyond the bucket test.

Related Terms and Categories

• Downspout

  The vertical pipe that carries rainwater from a roof gutter down to the ground, ideally ending several feet away from the house's foundation.

• Emergency kit

  A packed set of water, food, light, first aid and other basics that lets a household get through several days on its own after a disaster.

• Homeowners insurance claim

  A request to your homeowners insurer to pay for damage or loss the policy covers, backed by photos, a list of what was lost and your receipts.

• Hurricane prep

  Getting a home and household ready for a hurricane: knowing your evacuation zone, stocking supplies, protecting windows and acting on watches and warnings.

• Seasonal home maintenance

  Home upkeep sorted by time of year, so each job lands when the weather suits it and before the system it protects is needed most.

• Generator maintenance

  The routine care that keeps a home generator ready for an outage: oil changes, filter and spark plug checks, test runs and safe storage.

Home maintenance and repairs