An effective drainage system is needed in almost every home, especially in most areas of Northern Virginia. As our area is known for its humid summer and heavy thunderstorms, the inclement weather is also known for causing major damage to homes without a proper sump pump installed. To prevent your foundation and basement from damage, consider having a sump pump professional install or replace your current sump pump in your basement. 

At R.A. Dobson, we regularly perform drainage services such as affordable sump pump installations and replacements, as well as plumbing, HVAC maintenance, and much more. We have served numerous homes and businesses throughout the Sterling, VA area for over 45 years, providing dedicated customer service and excellent home appliances at quality rates. 

Below, we describe general information on sump pumps and how you can test if your system is working efficiently: 

Sump Pump vs. Emergency Battery Backup Pump

A sump pump occupies an area beneath your basement so that it can collect excess water that attempts to access your home’s foundation during heavy rainstorms. Sump pumps send excess water back out and away from your home’s foundation through a series of pipes. It helps prevent groundwater from collecting around your home and damaging it further as well as keeps it from flooding.

While taking into consideration that sump pumps operate off of electricity, they are often needed for emergencies like during power outages. Emergency battery backup pumps offer an additional power source to your sump pump whenever you may experience power outages.

See if your home needs a sump pump and read about the warning signs you should look out for!

How to Test if Your Current Sump Pump Works

Since our sump pumps are often out-of-sight, you may need to do a routine check to see if it’s still in working condition before the heavy rainstorms set in. You can test it by double checking if the exit pipe is free of debris first. Once this is cleared, locate the electrical cords and follow the instructions below. 

For sump pumps with two cords: 

Keep in mind that some pumps may have one or two cords. While the pump cord is usually connected to the float cord, the pump cord should be the only one plugged into the nearest wall outlet. 

When you turn on the pump, you should hear a humming sound, which indicates that it’s working. Connect the pump cord and float cord as they originally were: first the float cord, then the pump cord, and finally plug the pump cord into the float switch. 

For sump pumps with one cord: 

Fill your pump pit with water until the float rises. If the pump does not switch on and pump the water out, you may need to repeat it a few times just in case. After a few tries and it doesn’t pump the water out, then contact your local sump pump replacement and installation experts for further assistance. 

R.A. Dobson: Dependable Sump Pump Installation in Sterling, VA 

At R.A. Dobson, we provide quality sump pump installation services, as well as experienced plumbing, cooling, heating, and other home appliance installation and maintenance services for residents throughout Sterling, VA and Northern Virginia. For well over 45 years, we have provided dedicated services and premium home appliances at affordable rates. 
Contact us at (703) 481-3700 to learn more about our services and get a free estimate.