Wild overnight wind gusts may have cut power to some sump pumps, causing flooded basements in Bronxville, NY 10708.
Our HUGE maple tree out back that could fall on our garage and cut all power to the house.
You know all about sump pumps, if you have a basement in a Bronxville or area home or business, in southern Westchester.
If a power outage from a rain or snow storm has ever shut down your sump pump and flooded your basement, you may have been a little worried this weekend.
Our days of heavy rain and big wind gusts could have caused a power outage, or a brown out, so be sure to check your basement and make sure the pump is on, as we greet the windy week ahead.
This is especially important in our older homes in the LowerHud, like our 1898 colonial we're renovating -- it's for sale everyone! Homes with below ground basements and "ground water rise" through a cement floor or "slab," are inclined to flood.
T
his makes our having finished basements or a clean, safe lower level difficult in southern Westchester...ahhh! When our power goes out in an electrical, wind or snowstorm, or even summer storms and "microbursts," it's always wise to keep an eye on your sump pump and power, so check those basements. This is especially true in your Bronxville home or a business, with storage and materials stored in a basement area.
We all stress out when the power is out, so channel that energy into checking that all of your electrical systems, dehumidifiers and pumps are on and working, especially after heavy rains and snow melt! If it breaks, or you cannot reset it, then call your plumber. Meantime, a restoration company may have to come in and help extract the water, or "mop up." Usually, your insurance will cover a sump pump power failure because it's considered a "mechanical failure." We work directly with insurance companies and take photos, document the whole process...mainly, Preventing MOLD!
Did you know nearly 60% of homes in the U.S. have some sort of underground wetness or water damage?
These basements will usually flood again, at some point, but it's really important to dry and disinfect your flooring, to prevent further damage and even mold growth later on. Usually your carpet can be saved and wood floors, if you call us in "the first 48." But, the padding should usualy get tossed out in a basement or "grey water" flood situation.
Most home and property owners believe that this only happens when there is a large amount of rainfall or water rising up in a home. However, a small amount of water can indeed cause a large amount of problems. In fact, it takes very little time and very little water to create that mildew smell and, later on, harmful mold issues.
No one can guarantee that your sump pump will work 100% of the time and never fail, but, here are some ways to increase the chances that it will work.
Causes of Failure
Some common causes of sump pump failure include electric power outage, wrong size of sump pump installed, improper installation, switch/float arm problems, or lack of maintenance.
What You Can Do
Hire a certified and qualified plumber to install and maintain your sump pump annually. If you’re installing a pump, following the manufacturers instructions very carefully is crucial. If you’re not familiar with sump pumps and have never installed one, it’s probably best to hire a professional to properly install it. You may not want to fork out the installation fee, but we guarantee it’s a lot cheaper than paying for water damage when your basement floods.
Other suggestions
A professional will know what size pump is necessary for your home and also make sure the switch is working like it should. You can’t control power outages, but you can be prepared for them. Having a generator ready to go as a backup power source can save the day… and a lot of money. Like any mechanical device in your home, maintenance is key. It’s important to check your sump pump regularly to make sure it’s functioning properly.
Easy Maintenance Tips
- Either quarterly or at least 2x per year, clean your sump pump, run a vinegar solution through it. This will free up any small pieces of debris and help the pump run more efficiently. You can do this yourself, but if there is a serious problem, call a professional.
- Check the sump pump’s float switch. If this is restricted, it will not kick on when there’s a flood.
- Clean all vents and air holes so your sump pump can run like it should.
Last, most sump pumps will last about 10 years, according the the U.S. Department of Housing and Development. If your sump pump gets regularly maintenaned, you could increase this to 10-15, or even 20 years. Our recommendation is to check your sump pump regularly and consider purchasing a generator, if you don’talready have one.
If you do ever become the unfortunate business or homeowner with a water damage in your basement or property, we restoration companies work 24/7. Well, Forrest and I have a real human picking up every day at our company, for desperate water or fire damage clients.
This includes all holidays for emergency fire and flood calls. When there are inches or feet of water in your boiler or laundry room, you want to talk to a person and get immediate help! Get help, if needed.
We hope this sump pump info. helps, as calls are coming in, after trees fell on power lines last night. Welcome to 2016 and winter, from all of us at Servpro of Scarsdale...! Cheers!
Comments(3)