Sump Pump Maintenance Checklist for Storm Season

Your sump pump is the last defense against a flooded basement. Run through this checklist before the next big storm.

Your sump pump sits quietly until the day a storm tests it — and that's the worst time to discover it isn't working.

Pour a bucket of water into the sump pit and confirm the pump kicks on, pumps it out, and shuts off. Check that the discharge line is clear and directs water away from the foundation. Clean debris from the pit and inspect the float switch.

Consider a battery backup system — primary pumps run on power, and storms that cause flooding often cause outages. If your pump is more than 7-10 years old, plan for replacement.

None of this replaces a licensed professional. When you want a real pro on the job, PlumbDispatch24 connects you with an independent, locally licensed plumber 24/7 — free to you, and we never quote prices. The local pro handles diagnosis and the estimate directly.