Brantford Sump Pump & Waterproofing
Sump pump & basement maintenance checklist
A simple homeowner routine for observing, testing, and documenting your water-protection system.
Safety first: never enter standing water near outlets, electrical panels, furnaces, pumps, cords, or other energized equipment. Contact the appropriate utility or qualified professional.
Monthly during wet seasons
Look into the sump pit safely. Remove only loose debris you can reach without touching electrical components.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to test automatic pump start, drawdown, and shutoff.
Listen for unusual grinding, humming, rattling, rapid cycling, or water flowing back into the pit.
Check the controller or alarm for warning lights and review battery condition according to its manual.
Outside the home
Confirm the sump discharge is clear, intact, and sending water away from the foundation without returning.
Clear leaves and debris from eavestroughs, downspouts, window wells, and nearby storm grates.
Look for soil settlement or low areas that direct water toward the basement wall.
During cold weather, watch for frozen or blocked discharge points.
Keep a simple record
Date of test: ____________________ Weather: ____________________
Pump and alarm result: __________________________________________
Leak location or change noticed: _________________________________
Request an assessment when: the pump does not start, water remains in the pit, the discharge is blocked, the battery warns of a fault, water appears at a new location, or a crack seems to be changing.