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Sump pump maintenance checklist
Run the sump pump by pouring water into the pit twice a year, in March and September, before the wet seasons. Where it is hot and humid, add June; where it is hot and dry, once, in March.
2 jobs a year, timed for cold winters. Tick them off as you go.
March
September
"Add these to my calendar" opens the free planner with this already ticked. Tick the rest of your house there, and it saves one calendar file that repeats every year.
The numbers, worked
Where winters are cold or mild the test comes twice a year: March, ahead of the spring thaw and rain, and September, ahead of fall storms.
Hot and humid adds a third test in June, ahead of the stormy months, so 3 a year. Hot and dry has one, in March.
Questions
How do I test a sump pump?
Pour water into the pit until the pump starts, and watch that it empties the pit and shuts off.
How often should I test it?
Twice a year on this schedule, three times where it is hot and humid and once where it is hot and dry.
What if it doesn't start?
Call a plumber before the next heavy rain.
Can I get reminders?
Yes. "Add these to my calendar" opens the free planner with Sump pump ticked; it saves a calendar file that repeats every year.