Test the sump pump
Do this in early spring, before thunderstorm season, and again in the fall.
- Find the pit, usually in a corner of the basement floor, and lift the cover.
- Pour a bucket of water into the pit until the float rises.
- The pump should kick on, empty the pit and shut off.
- Go outside and make sure water is coming out of the discharge line.
If the pump hums but does not move water, cycles on and off quickly, or runs constantly, have it looked at. Most pumps last somewhere around seven to ten years.
Plan for the power going out
The storms that fill your sump pit are the same storms that knock out power. A battery backup pump, or a water-powered backup if your home has city water, keeps the pit from overflowing during an outage. A high water alarm in the pit gives you a warning before water reaches the floor.
Keep the discharge line from freezing
The pipe that carries sump water outside can freeze in an Omaha winter, especially if it runs across the yard or sits in a low spot. When it freezes, the pump runs but the water has nowhere to go. A freeze guard fitting near the house lets water spill out if the line is blocked. Keep the end of the line clear of snow and ice, and make sure it drains away from the house.
Move roof water away from the foundation
Plenty of basement water starts on the roof. Clean gutters in the fall, and make sure every downspout empties at least several feet from the foundation, using extensions or splash blocks. The ground next to the house should slope away from it.
Watch the floor drain
In older Omaha neighborhoods, many homes are tied into combined sewers that carry storm water and sewage in the same pipe. During heavy rain, that system can push water back up through basement floor drains. A plumber can install a backwater valve on your main sewer line to stop it. If water ever comes up through a floor drain, stop using water in the house and call.
Store things up off the floor
Keep boxes, papers and anything you cannot replace on shelves, not on the basement floor. Plastic bins hold up better than cardboard. If you have a finished basement, know where the sump pit is and keep it reachable.
If the basement floods anyway
Stay out if water is near outlets or the furnace. Check the pump if you can reach it safely, take photos, and call. A crew can pump out the water, pull wet carpet and drywall, and dry the space before mold starts.