Annual Sump Pump Service

Purpose

Define a repeatable annual service protocol for residential sump pumps. A failed sump pump during a storm is a + basement-flooding event. A annual service catches the failures that cause those floods - float switches stuck, intakes clogged, discharge frozen, batteries flat on the backup. Sump pumps don't get attention until they're already too late.

Scope

Applies to:

• Submersible sump pumps in residential pits
• Pedestal sump pumps in residential pits
• Battery-backup pumps (primary or secondary)
• Water-powered backup pumps (rare but in service in some regions)

Excludes commercial sump systems and crawlspace dewatering systems (separate SOPs).

Responsibilities

• Dispatcher schedules in early spring (March - April) before storm season, OR fall (September - October) for areas with winter freeze risk
• Lead technician runs the procedure + provides flood-risk briefing if any issue is found
• Customer is shown the test cycle and given the discharge-monitoring tip

Procedure

1. Customer briefing. Confirm the pump pit location, identify the discharge route, ask about any flooding events since the last service.
2. Visual inspection at the pit. Pit should be clean of debris, gravel, or sediment. Excessive sediment buildup is a flag for either pit-degradation or excessive groundwater carrying soil.
3. Test the float switch manually. Lift the float - the pump should engage within 1 second. Lower it - the pump should disengage cleanly.
4. Pour-test the pump. Add 5 gallons of water to the pit. Time the cycle: pump should evacuate water in 30 - 60 seconds depending on capacity. Note the cycle time on the field report.
5. Verify the check valve. Pump should NOT cycle on/off rapidly after the pit empties (that's the check valve failing, letting discharge water flow backward into the pit).
6. Inspect the discharge pipe. Trace from pump outlet to the exterior termination. Look for kinks, freeze damage in cold regions, or rodent nesting in the outlet.
7. Test the battery backup (if installed). Disconnect AC power, verify the backup engages, time how long it holds at idle. Replace the battery if more than 4 years old regardless of test results.
8. Inspect the alarm (if installed). Most pump alarms are battery-powered - replace the 9V annually.
9. Photograph the equipment label and the pit before / after service.

Acceptance Criteria

• Pump cycles cleanly on float test
• 5-gallon pour test evacuates in 30 - 60 seconds (or pump-spec time)
• Check valve holds - no rapid restart after pit empties
• Discharge pipe clear of obstructions
• Battery backup (if present) holds under load for at least 5 minutes of test discharge
• Alarm (if present) sounds when triggered

References

• IAPMO Uniform Plumbing Code, Chapter 11 (Storm Drainage)
• Manufacturer service literature for the specific pump make/model