Newly installed sump pump sitting in a basement sump pit

Sump pump service: pour test, float, check valve, discharge, pit cleaning and backup

Zoeller's instructions for common submersible sump pumps call for clearing debris from the basin and testing the system at least every three months; service companies agree on a quarterly pour test, a twice-yearly check of the check valve and discharge, an annual pit cleaning and a 2-3 year battery change on backups. The core test is simple: add water, watch the float lift, the pump start, the water leave and the pump stop.

Cross-checked ~30 min easyBrands: Zoeller, Wayne, Liberty, Superior, All

Before you start

Unplug the pump before putting hands in the pit; sump water and electricity are a shock hazard
Sewage ejector basins are not sump pits; do not open a sealed ejector basin for this test
Keep the cord clear of the float path when reassembling

Diagnostic steps

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