Quick takeaways
- Pour a bucket-test before the first melt. If the pump doesn't kick on cleanly, replace it.
- Check the battery backup indicator — replace the battery every 3-5 years.
- Listen for grinding, rattling, or short-cycling — all signs of imminent failure.
The bucket test
Open your sump lid (or remove the cover). Slowly pour a 5-gallon bucket of clean water into the pit. The float should rise, the pump should kick on, the water should be pumped out fully, and the pump should shut off cleanly. The whole cycle should take less than 30 seconds.
Failures we see: pump doesn't start at all (seized motor or failed switch); pump runs but doesn't move water (clogged impeller or check valve); pump starts and stops repeatedly (failing float switch); pump runs continuously (stuck float). All four are reasons to replace.
Battery backup
If you don't have a battery backup yet, install one before spring melt. The most common cause of basement floods in Kanata isn't pump failure — it's a power outage during a heavy rain storm when the primary pump can't run. Batteries last 3-5 years; replace proactively.
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