Tips From The Pros

Sump Pump Maintenance

Out of sight, out of mind… literally! Your home’s sump pump is housed in a hole in the ground. Its purpose is to pump out excess ground water to keep your basement or crawl space dry. Unfortunately, most homeowners don’t pay attention to it until it’s too late—the alarm is sounding because it has failed or worse yet, there are a few inches of water in the basement. Since we have just entered the rainy season here in Northeast Indiana, now is a good time to make sure your sump pump is functioning properly.

As a homeowner, you’ve likely thought about the nightmare scenario of a flooded basement—whether it’s finished or not. Water in the basement is never a good thing and can lead to costly insurance claims and repairs. That’s why it’s imperative that you have your sump pump checked regularly to ensure it is working as it should. It’s important to note, if you do have standing water in your basement, do not walk in it or you may risk electrocution. Call us right away.

What does the sump pump look like and where can you find it? Most sump pumps are covered by a removable lid and are located in the home’s basement or crawl space. If the lid is sealed, this is the sewage ejector, and you should NOT remove the lid to avoid exposure to raw fecal materials and sewer gas.

Sump Pump


The sump pump’s main function is foundational drainage. After a big rain, you should hear it running. That’s how you know it’s working properly. If you don’t hear the sump pump, this may be a sign of trouble.

A. Hattersley & Son’s preventative maintenance package includes sump pump maintenance, so they will test to make sure it is running properly before an issue arises. Our service technicians will check for leaks, test the electrical connections, and clean out debris.

In addition to keeping your home’s plumbing in tip-top shape, our goal is to educate the customer. We will test the alarm so you know what the alarm sounds like if you have one. We will show you how it works and how to shut things off for safety reasons. We want you to understand how the sump pump works so you know what to look for before a disaster strikes.

Because a sump pump failure can be so damaging, A. Hattersley recommends a city water, or a battery powered back-up sump pump. If the power goes out, so does the sump pump. And if the power goes out during a big storm with a lot of rain, it could be a recipe for disaster.

A sump pump is a fairly simple mechanism and sometimes a simple fix that a homeowner can perform is all that is needed. If you think your sump pump is not functioning properly, don’t hesitate to call us. Our service technicians can help you troubleshoot over the phone to avoid a service call.

Whether you need preventative maintenance, repairs or installation, our team can help. Call (260) 483-6473 to schedule with Hattersley today!